DELEGATES QUARTERLY MEETINGSEPTEMBER 2006 · Giant Schnauzer Club of America, Inc.—Robin...

Quarterly Meeting Of The Delegatesof

The American Kennel ClubSeptember 12, 2006

Dennis B. Sprung, President

PRESENT 346

Abilene Kennel Club—Neil A. Bates

Afghan Hound Club of America, Inc.—Ms. Con-

stance Butherus

Airedale Terrier Club of America—Aletta L. Moore

Akita Club of America—Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki

Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.—Mrs.

Virginia P. Grefe

Albany Kennel Club, Inc.—Dennis J. Gallant

American Belgian Malinois Club—Ms. Nancy L.

Bennett

American Belgian Tervuren Club, Inc.—Ms. Janina

K. Laurin

American Bloodhound Club—Mary L. Olszewski

American Bouvier des Flandres Club, Inc.—Patte

Klecan

American Boxer Club, Inc.—Mrs. Stephanie Abra-

ham

American Brittany Club, Inc.—Karen Stout

American Bullmastiff Association, Inc.—Mrs.

Helma N. Weeks

American Fox Terrier Club—Connie Clark

American Lhasa Apso Club, Inc.—Mr. Edmund R.

Sledzik

American Maltese Association, Inc.—Mr. Richard

W. Glenn

American Manchester Terrier Club—Mrs. Phyllis

J. Andreasen

American Miniature Schnauzer Club, Inc.—Don

Farley, II

American Pointer Club, Inc.—Mrs. Karen R. Spey

American Rottweiler Club—Mr. Peter G. Piusz

American Sealyham Terrier Club—Kenneth W.

Mader

American Shih Tzu Club, Inc.—Ms. Betty E. Blair

American Spaniel Club, Inc.—Barbara Shaw

American Water Spaniel Club—Beth Lagimoniere

Anderson Kennel Club—Phillip D. Sample

Anderson Obedience Training Club, Inc.—Ms.

Patricia A. Sample

Antelope Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—William

Daniels

Arkansas Kennel Club, Inc.—Barbara A. Finch

Atlanta Kennel Club, Inc.—Ann Wallin

Australian Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Kim

Occhiuti

Back Mountain Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Nina

Schaefer

Basset Hound Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Bar-

bara Wicklund

Battle Creek Kennel Club, Inc.—Mr. John A.

Studebaker

Bayou Kennel Club, Inc.—Wayne Boyd

Bayshore Companion Dog Club, Inc.—Robin

Sayko

Beaumont Kennel Club, Inc.—Mr. Carl E. Holder

Beaver County Kennel Club, Inc.—Chris Gaburri

Bedlington Terrier Club of America—Mrs. Marjorie

M. Hanson

Belgian Sheepdog Club of America, Inc.—Barbara

Swisher

Berks County Kennel Club, Inc.—Frank S. Piehl

Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, Inc.—

Denise Dean

Birmingham Kennel Club, Inc.—Martha Griffin

Border Collie Society of America—Claudia Frank

Border Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Ruth

A. Naun

Borzoi Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Karen Staudt-

Cartabona

Boston Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Kath-

leen M. Kelly

Bronx County Kennel Club—Ms. Alexa Samarotto

Brookhaven Kennel Club, Inc.—Marie A. Fiore

Bryn Mawr Kennel Club—Sam H. McDonald

Bull Terrier Club of America—Louis Wellons

Bulldog Club of America—Bob Newcomb

Bulldog Club of New England, Inc.—Francesca J.

Castaneda

Bulldog Club of Philadelphia—Mrs. Lynn E. Smith

Burlington County Kennel Club, Inc.—Daniel J.

Smyth, Esq.

Butler County Kennel Club, Inc.—John W. Towns,

Jr.

California Collie Clan, Inc.—Mrs. Evelyn Honig

Canaan Dog Club of America—Pamela S. Rosman

Capital Dog Training Club of Washington, D.C.,

Inc.—Dr. Joyce A. Dandridge

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc.—Ms.

Eugenia B. Bishop

Carolina Kennel Club, Inc.—Jaimie Ashby

Catoctin Kennel Club—Whitney Coombs

Catonsville Kennel Club—Judith A. Porter

Cedar Rapids Kennel Association, Inc.—J Richard

Seelbach

Central Beagle Club—David S. Bagaley

Central Florida Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Diane J.

Albers

Central New York Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Diane

D. Almy

Central Ohio Kennel Club—Roberta K. Brady

Channel City Kennel Club, Inc.—Claire K. Steidel

Charleston Kennel Club—Sylvia Arrowwood

Chihuahua Club of America, Inc.—Rey Burgos

Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc.—Marge B.

Calltharp

Chintimini Kennel Club, Inc.—Nick Pisias

Chow Chow Club, Inc.—Mrs. Ginny Atkinson

Cincinnati Kennel Club, Inc.—Dr. Patricia H.

Haines

Clarksville Kennel Club—Robert A. Schroll

Clearwater Kennel Club—Daniel T. Stolz

Cleveland All-Breed Training Club, Inc.—Mrs.

Maureen R. Setter

Clumber Spaniel Club of America, Inc.—Ricky

Blackman

Colorado Kennel Club—Louise Leone

Colorado Springs Kennel Club—Mrs. Andre B.

Schoen

Conyers Kennel Club of Georgia—Michael

Houchard

Corpus Christi Kennel Club, Inc.—Joan Urban

Cudahy Kennel Club—Don H. Adams

Dachshund Club of America, Inc.—Mr. Charles A.

Baris

Dalmatian Club of America, Inc.—James W. Smith

Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America, Inc.—

Mr. Carleton H. Musson

Dayton Dog Training Club, Inc.—Barbara L. Mann

Del Monte Kennel Club, Inc.—Merlyn A. Green,

D.C.

Del Sur Kennel Club, Inc.—Andrew G. Mills

Des Moines Kennel Club, Inc.—John D. Hughes

Des Moines Obedience Training Club—Lee Slorah

Detroit Kennel Club—Mr. Erik Bergishagen

Devon Dog Show Association, Inc.—John C.

Sheahan, III

Dog Owner’s Training Club of Maryland—Kathry-

nann Sarvinas

Duluth Kennel Club—Hon. David C. Merriam

Durham Kennel Club Inc—Linda C. Wozniak

East Tennessee Retriever Club—Catherine Bell

Eastern Dog Club—Charles J. Foley

Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club, Inc.—

Mrs. Joan Tabor

Elm City Kennel Club—Joan Caspersen

English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, Inc.—Mr.

Jesse A. Pfeiffer, Jr.

English Setter Association of America, Inc.—Mr.

John P. Nielsen

English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association,

Inc.—Mrs. Alice E. Berd

English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Club of Illi-

nois—David H. Hopkins

English Toy Spaniel Club of America—Vanessa N.

Weber

Erie Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Peggy Helming

Evansville Kennel Club, Inc.—Kay Collins

Farmington Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—Terrie Breen

Field Spaniel Society of America—Sharon Deputy

Finger Lakes Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Margaret B.

Pough

First Company Governor’s Foot Guard Athletic

Association—Lt. Col. John L. O’Connell

First Dog Training Club of Northern New Jersey,

Inc.—Marilyn Traurig

Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America, Inc.—

Kurt Anderson

Forsyth Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Almira B. Dallas

Fort Worth Kennel Club—Mr. Harry G. Ottmann

Framingham District Kennel Club, Inc.—Lynda

Kenney

French Bulldog Club of America—Mrs. Ann M.

Hubbard

Furniture City Kennel Club, Inc.—Merry J. Millner

Galveston County Kennel Club, Inc.—Kathleen

Nuzenski

German Shepherd Dog Club of America—Dr. Car-

men L. Battaglia

German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America—Mr.

Kenneth A. Marden

German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America,

Inc.—Ms. Patricia W. Laurans

Giant Schnauzer Club of America, Inc.—Robin

Greenslade

Gig Harbor Kennel Club—Richard L. Byrd

Glens Falls Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Bonnie

Lapham

Gloucester County Kennel Club, Inc.—Carole

Richards

Golden Retriever Club of America—Mr. Howard

Falberg

Gordon Setter Club of America, Inc.—Nance O.

Skoglund

Great Pyrenees Club of America, Inc.—Dr. Robert

M. Brown

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1

DELEGATES QUARTERLY MEETING SEPTEMBER 2006

Greater Collin Kennel Club, Inc.—David Keene

Greater Freeport Illinois Kennel Club—Ronald H.

Menaker

Greater Lowell Kennel Club, Inc.—Virginia M.

O’Connell

Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Association—

Marlene Steinberg

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America,

Inc.—Clifford A. Dahl

Greenville Kennel Club—Linda A. Knorr

Greenwich Kennel Club—Dr. Stephen Blau

Greyhound Club of America—Melanie Steele

Harrisburg Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Cynthia A.

Miller

Hatboro Dog Club, Inc.—Mr. Robert D. Black

Hawaiian Kennel Club—Norman B. Kenney

Heart of the Plains Kennel Club—Patricia M. Cruz

Hockamock Kennel Club, Inc.—Nancy Fisk

Hollywood Dog Obedience Club, Inc.—Jan Wolf

Holyoke Kennel Club, Inc.—Leonard Abraham

Houston Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Carol A.

Williamson

Huntingdon Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—Dick Blair

Huntington Kennel Club, Inc.—Gwen McCullagh

Hutchinson Kennel Club, Inc.—David A. Helming

Idaho Capital City Kennel Club, Inc.—Wyoma

Clouss

Illinois Capitol Kennel Club, Inc.—Ann Cookson

Ingham County Kennel Club, Inc.—Rita J. Biddle

Irish Setter Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Con-

stance B. Vanacore

Irish Water Spaniel Club of America—Susan Tapp

Irish Wolfhound Club of America—Eugenia Hunter

Italian Greyhound Club of America, Inc.—Sondra

Katz

James River Kennel Club, Inc.—Mallory C. Driskill

K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County, NJ,

Inc.—Mrs. Pam Goldman

Kalamazoo Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Cindy Cooke

Kanadasaga Kennel Club—Mrs. Beverly M.

Nosiglia

Keeshond Club of America, Inc.—Mr. John D.

Sawicki

Kenilworth Kennel Club of Connecticut, Inc.—Mrs.

Gwen Wexler

Kennel Club of Buffalo, Inc.—Carole Plesur

Kennel Club of Niagara Falls—Mrs. Florence L.

Prawel

Kennel Club of Northern New Jersey, Inc.—Dr.

Suzanne H. Hampton

Kennel Club of Pasadena—Jarratt Brunson

Kennel Club of Philadelphia, Inc.—Charles H.

Schaefer

Kennel Club of Riverside—Sylvia Thomas

Kettle Moraine Kennel Club, Inc.—Paulann Phelan

Key City Kennel Club, Inc.—Dr. Fred C. Bock, II

Kuvasz Club of America—R K. Barnes

Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.—Mr. A. N. Sills

Lackawanna Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Virginia Van

Doren

Ladies’ Dog Club, Inc.—Ms. Virginia T. Rowland

Ladies’ Kennel Association of America—Ruth

Winston

Lake Champlain Retriever Club—Betsy Bernhard

Lakeland Winter Haven Kennel Club—Sylvia

Meisels

Lakes Region Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Crecia C.

Closson

Lancaster Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Cynthia L. Gar-

man

Land O’ Lakes Kennel Club, Inc.—Jan Croft

Langley Kennel Club—Ms. Dianne E. Franck

Lawrenceville Kennel Club, Inc.—Robert LaBerge

Lewiston-Auburn Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Sue

Goldberg

Lima Kennel Club—Ellen Fetter

Long Island Kennel Club—Mr. William B. Tabler,

Jr.

Longshore-Southport Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs.

Joan L. Fisher

Los Encinos Kennel Club, Inc.—David M. Powers

Macon Kennel Club—Nell Stumpff

Mad River Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Betty J.

Miller

Manitowoc County Kennel Club, Inc.—Romana

Arnold

Marion Ohio Kennel Club, Inc.—Dr. J. C. Garvin

Mastiff Club of America, Inc.—Dr. William R.

Newman

McKinley Kennel Club—Herman H. Tietjen

Mensona Kennel Club, Inc.—John S. Fitzpatrick,

D.V.M.

Mid-Hudson Kennel Association, Inc.—Gayle Bon-

tecou

Middleburg Kennel Club—Dianne Ring

Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America—Giselle

Simonds

Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc.—

Thomas W. Baldwin

Mispillion Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Blackie H.

Nygood

Mississippi Valley Kennel Club—Mrs. Gretchen

Bernardi

Mississippi Valley Retriever Club—Robert H. McK-

owen

Mohawk Valley Kennel Club—Mrs. Sandra Haber

Monmouth County Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Helmi

Konderock

Montgomery County Kennel Club—Ms. Ida E.

Weinstock

Monticello New York Kennel Club, Inc.—James M.

Burns

Mount Vernon Dog Training Club—Mrs. Ruth W.

Crumb

Mountain States Dog Training Club, Inc.—John D.

Landis

Mountaineer Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Rebecca S.

Stanevich

Mt. Baker Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Judith V.

Daniels

Nashville Kennel Club—James Efron

Nassau Dog Training Club, Inc.—Margaret Umin-

sky

National Beagle Club—Eddie Dziuk

National Capital Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Catherine

B. Nelson

Naugatuck Valley Kennel Club—Mrs. Viola Burgos

New England Beagle Club, Inc.—Mr. Mario S.

Palumbo

New England Dog Training Club, Inc.—Liz Sullivan

New Jersey Beagle Club, Inc.—Louis Schmitt

Newfoundland Club of America, Inc.—Mrs. Mary

W. Price

Newnan Kennel Club—Willie Crawford

Newton Kennel Club—Catherine H. Murch

Newtown Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Diane F. Taylor

Nisqually Kennel Club—R. H. Hachtel

North Shore Kennel Club—Richard F. Coletti

Northwestern Connecticut Dog Club, Inc.—Billie

Ponton

Oakland Dog Training Club, Inc.—Lynette J. Saltz-

man

Obedience Training Club of Hawaii, Inc.—Ms.

Patricia C. Scully

Obedience Training Club of Rhode Island—James

M. Ashton

Old Dominion Kennel Club of Northern Virginia,

Inc.—Robert Nazak

Old English Sheepdog Club of America, Inc.—Dr.

Hugh Jordan

Olympic Kennel Club, Inc.—Harvey A. Mueller

Onondaga Kennel Association, Inc.—Judy F. Mur-

ray

Otterhound Club of America—Mark J. Hawley

Ox Ridge Kennel Club—Jack P. De Witt

Pacific Coast Boston Terrier Club—Mr. Carl E.

Gomes

Papillon Club of America, Inc.—Ms. Arlene A.

Czech

Parson Russell Terrier Association of America—

Maria Sacco

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc.—

Judy A. Hart

Peninsula Dog Fanciers Club, Inc.—Joanne Jay-

tanie-Duncan

Penn Ridge Kennel Club, Inc.—Marieann Glad-

stone

Penn Treaty Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Jean Ander-

son

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America—

Anne Gallant, Ph.D.

Pharaoh Hound Club of America—Mr. Gary A.

Reed

Philadelphia Dog Training Club, Inc.—Christine

Allen

Piedmont Kennel Club, Inc.—Joachim Blutreich

Pioneer Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Margaret

Vohr

Plainfield Kennel Club—John McCullagh

Plum Creek Kennel Club of Colorado—Charles

McWilliams

Port Chester Obedience Training Club, Inc.—

Robert A. Amen

Portland Dog Obedience Club, Inc.—James Prim-

mer

Portland Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Joan Savage

Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc.—

Karen Arends

Providence County Kennel Club, Inc.—Kerstin T.

Ottmar

Puli Club of America, Inc.—Barbara Edwards

Putnam Kennel Club, Inc.—Florence R. Laicher

Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers, Inc.—Mrs. Anne M.

Rappaport

Queensboro Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Linda M. Lac-

chia

Ramapo Kennel Club—Mrs. Rose J. Radel

Rapid City Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Sally J. Nist

Reno Kennel Club—Mr. Steven D. Gladstone

Rhode Island Kennel Club, Inc.—Gerard Baudet

2 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States,

Inc.—Mr. George D. Sexton

Richland County Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Shirley L.

Boyer

Richland Kennel Club, Inc.—Donald B. Harris

Richmond Dog Fanciers Club, Inc.—Jan M.

Ritchie

Rio Grande Kennel Club—Mr. William H. Green

Riverhead Kennel Club, Inc.—Catherine D. Farrell

Rockingham County Kennel Club, Inc.—Janice S.

Gardner

Rockland County Kennel Club, Inc.—Karen Justin

Saluki Club of America—Joseph P. Pendry

Sammamish Kennel Club—Robert Gloster

Samoyed Club of America, Inc.—Mr. John L.

Ronald

San Francisco Dog Training Club, Inc.—Stanley S.

Saltzman

San Gabriel Valley Kennel Club—Ralph S. Roberts

Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club, INC.—James R.

Dok

Saratoga New York Kennel Club—Jessica Eggle-

ston

Schipperke Club of America, Inc.—Betty J. Patrick

Scottish Deerhound Club of America, Inc.—Sally

Poole

Scottish Terrier Club of America—John McNabney

Scottsdale Dog Fanciers Association, Inc.—Nancy

Perrell

Seattle Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Lynne M. Myall

Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association of Orange

County—Susan L. Hamil

Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc.—Ms. Donna

Beckman

Silver Bay Kennel Club of San Diego—Nancy Dan-

drea

Sir Francis Drake Kennel Club, Inc—William J.

Feeney

Skokie Valley Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Corinne J.

Kehoe

Skye Terrier Club of America—Mr. Walter F.

Goodman

Skyline Kennel Club, Inc.—Gloria Shaver

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America—

Cindy Vogels

South Hills Kennel Club—Mrs. Kathleen R. Parks

South Jersey Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Linda B.

Willson

South Shore Kennel Club, Inc.—Linda C. Flynn

South Texas Obedience Club, Inc.—Mrs. Gerry

Dalakian

South Windsor Kennel Club—Margarette (Peggy)

Wampold

Southeastern Iowa Kennel Club—Medora Harper

Southern Adirondack Dog Club, Inc.—Dr. John V.

Ioia

Spinone Club of America—James Channon

Springfield Kennel Club, Inc.—Dr. Thomas M.

Davies

St. Bernard Club of America, Inc.—Linda Baker

St. Petersburg Dog Fanciers Association—Dr.

Gerry Meisels

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America—Ms.

Ann Lettis

Staffordshire Terrier Club of America—I. L. Bris-

bin, Ph.D.

Standard Schnauzer Club of America—Kathy A.

Donovan

Staten Island Kennel Club, Inc.—Dr. Bernard E.

McGivern, Jr.

Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno, Inc.—Paullet De

Long

Susque-Nango Kennel Club, Inc.—Thomas D. Par-

rotti

Sussex Hills Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Florence

Duggan

Sussex Spaniel Club of America—Mr. John R.

Lewis, Jr.

Taconic Hills Kennel Club, Inc.—Linda H. Penney

Tampa Bay Kennel Club—Mary Manning

Tennessee Valley Kennel Club—Karen Clausing

Terry-All Kennel Club, Inc.—Thom Stanfield

Texas Kennel Club, Inc.—Steve Schmidt

Tibetan Spaniel Club of America—Mr. Herbert H.

Rosen

Tibetan Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Ms. Carole

A. Miller

Troy Kennel Club, Inc.—John J. Cadalso, Jr.

Tualatin Kennel Club, Inc.—James S. Corbett

Twin Brooks Kennel Club, Inc.—Joan Confort

United States Australian Shepherd Association—

Leon Goetz

United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, Inc.—Mr.

Carl C. Ashby, III

United States Lakeland Terrier Club—Alfred J. Fer-

ruggiaro

Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club—J. M. Haderer

Upper Snake River Valley Dog Training Club,

Inc.—Joan E. McFadden

Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club—William H.

Blair

Vacationland Dog Club, Inc.—Iris K. Frankel

Valley Forge Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Carol Fisher

Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association—Mr.

William F. Dumas

Vizsla Club of America, Inc.—Ms. Lynn Worth

Wachusett Kennel Club, Inc.—Suzanne Gray

Wallkill Kennel Club, Inc.—Cecil Mann

Wampanoag Kennel Club, Inc.—Ms. Naida L.

Parker

Washington State Obedience Training Club, Inc.—

Mr. Donald Rennick

Waterloo Kennel Club, Inc.—Mrs. Anita A. Lusten-

berger

Waukesha Kennel Club, Inc.—Nancy C. Russell

Weimaraner Club of America—Ms. Judy Colan

Welsh Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Peter J. See

West Volusia Kennel Club—Ferdinand Reinlieb

Western Fox Terrier Breeders Association—Torie

Steele

Western Reserve Kennel Club, Inc.—Mr. William

A. Russett

Westminster Kennel Club—William F. Stifel

Wichita Kennel Club, Inc.—Mildred L. Dold

Wilmington Kennel Club, Inc.—Candace Mogavero

Windham County Kennel Club, Inc.—Frederick R.

Vogel

Windward Hawaiian Dog Fanciers Association—

Mrs. Karen Mays

Women’s Field Trial Club—Judy Rasmuson

Woodstock Dog Club, Inc.—Mrs. Jan Marshall

Worcester County Kennel Club—John H. Honig

Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, Inc.—Patricia

D. Reynolds

Dennis B. Sprung, President in theChair.

M r. Sprung: Delegates, please takeyour seats. The meeting will come toorder. We would like to thank 14 clubsfor their hospitality last evening at theDelegates Reception. This team includ-ed the following clubs: Eastern Ge r-man Shorthaired Pointer Club;Gloucester County Kennel Club; K-9Obedience Training Club of EssexCounty, NJ; Monmouth County Ke n-nel Club; Newton Kennel Club; Plain-field Kennel Club; Ramapo Ke n n e lClub; Somerset Hills Kennel Club;South Jersey Kennel Club; Sussex HillsKennel Club; Tuxedo Park Ke n n e lClub; Twin Brooks Kennel Club;Union County Kennel Club; and West-minster Kennel Club.

If there is any Delegate present whohas not signed the attendance record,please be sure to do so before adjourn-ment, as this is the official record ofattendance.

The Chair would like to introducethe persons seated with me on the dais.On my immediate left is the Chair-man, Ron Me n a k e r. To his left is theVice Chair, David Merriam. On myright is Doris Abate, Professional Reg-istered Parliamentarian. To her right isJim Crowley, the Executive Se c r e t a r y ,and to Mr. Crowley’s right is MarkSchaffer, the court reporter.

New Delegates have been requestedto submit individual photographs forpublication in the A KC GAZE TTE.Any Delegate who has not submitted aphotograph and wishes to do so, pleasesee the photographer during adjourn-ment or following the meeting.

We will soon vote for the De l e g a t eStanding Committees. Delegates mayuse the ballots that were sent to you. Ifyou need a ballot, members of theAKC staff have them for you.

Remember that in marking your bal-lots, if you vote for more than the max-imum number permitted for a commit-tee, the ballot will be invalid. Whenyou have marked your ballots, I willask you to please go to the back of theroom to the eight polling stations andprovide your last name and your club’sname to the teller.

As has been our practice in the past,the tabulation of ballots will be over-seen by the accounting firm of Ernst &Young. When you have voted, pleasereturn to your seats so that we mayresume the meeting. Results of the

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 3


election to the Standing Co m m i t t e e swill be announced during the meeting.

Also, at an appropriate point in themeeting, we will break for lunch. Ourstaff is passing out ballots, and theChair now calls for a vote of the Stand-ing Committees.

(Voting)

Mr. Sprung: Are there any Delegateswishing to cast a ballot who have notyet had an opportunity to do so? If allDelegates who wish to vote have doneso, the Chair declares the polls closedand the tellers may retire to count theballots.

If a Delegate makes an amendmentto the Bylaws or the Rules to be votedon today, please provide a writtencopy to the Executive Se c r e t a r y. It ismost important that the Chair has thespecific wording, as this will greatlyenhance our ability to project the pre-cise words to be considered on thescreens.

The Chair calls on the ExecutiveSecretary to read the names of De l e-gates seated since the last meeting.

M r. Crowley: These Delegates thathave been seated since the last meet-ing.

Robert A. Amen, Stamford, Co n-necticut, to represent the Port ChesterObedience Training Club

Betsy Bernhard, Stowe, Vermont, torepresent Lake Champlain Re t r i e v e rClub

Michael J. Connell, Las Vegas, Neva-da, to represent Silver State Ke n n e lClub

Catherine Diener Farrell, Westhamp-ton, New York, to represent RiverheadKennel Club

Karen Justin, Westtown, New Yo r k ,to represent Ro ckland County Ke n n e lClub

Louise Leone, Franktown, Colorado,to represent Colorado Kennel Club

Sam Houston McDonald, ChesterSprings, Pennsylvania, to representBryn Mawr Kennel Club

Joseph A. Martyn, Manahawkin,New Jersey, to represent Trenton Ken-nel Club

Janis Lowy Mullin, Highland Pa r k ,Illinois, to represent Chicago BulldogClub

Carol Myers, Jacksonville, Florida,to represent Jacksonville Dog FanciersAssociation

Lieutenant Colonel John L. O’Co n-

nell, West Simsbury, Connecticut, torepresent First Company Go v e r n o r ’ sFoot Guard Athletic Association

Niklas G. Pisias, Corvallis, Oregon,to represent Chintimini Kennel Club

Lynette Saltzman, Westport, Co n-necticut, to represent Oakland Do gTraining Club

Nance Olson Skoglund, Mahtomedi,Minnesota, to represent Gordon SetterClub of America

Lee J. Slorah, Norwalk, Iowa, to rep-resent Des Moines Obedience TrainingClub

Marilyn R. Vinson, Glendale, Ari-zona, to represent Kachina Ke n n e lClub.

The following Delegates, who wereattending their first meeting sinceapproval, were introduced from thefloor:

Leonard G. Abraham, Be l ch e r t o w n ,Massachusetts, Holyoke Kennel Club

Robert A. Amen, Stamford, Co n-necticut, Port Chester ObedienceTraining Club

Patricia M. Cruz, Coram, NY, Heartof the Plains Kennel Club

Barbara Edwards, Brighton, Co l-orado, Puli Club of America

Catherine Diener Farrell, Westhamp-ton New York, Riverhead Kennel Club

Karen Justin, Westtown, New Yo r k ,Rockland County Kennel Club

Louise Leone, Franktown, Colorado,Colorado Kennel Club

Sam Houston MacDonald, ChesterSprings, Pennsylvania, Bryn MawrKennel Club

Joseph Martyn, Manahawkin, NJ ,Trenton Kennel Club

Lieutenant Colonel John L. O’Co n-nell, West Simsbury, Connecticut, FirstCompany Governor’s Foot Guard Ath-letic Association

Nicklas G. Pisias, Corvallis, Oregon,Chintimini Kennel Club

Nance Olson Skoglund, Mahtomedi,Minnesota, Gordon Setter Club ofAmerica

Lee J. Slorah, Norwalk, Iowa, De sMoines Obedience Training Club

Margaret M. Uminsky, Levittown,New York, Nassau Dog Training Club

M r. Sprung: Thank you, and a sin-cere welcome to all of our new De l e-gates. On Sunday, the AKC manage-ment team hosted the Orientation fornew Delegates. We would like to thankthe 32 attendees and the Board of

Directors. It was very successful, andwe believe well received.

I also want to thank Dan Smyth,Chairman of the Delegates Ad v o c a c yand Advancement Committee, for hisparticipation and advice to the newDelegates.

The minutes of the June 13th, 20 06meeting were published in the A KCG A ZE TTE and they were mailed toe a ch Delegate. If there are no correc-tions, the minutes will stand approvedas published. Hearing no correction,the minutes stand approved.

The next item is the approval of newmember clubs. The following clubshave been approved by The Board ofDirectors and will be voted on at thismeeting:

Columbia Terrier Association ofMaryland; Havanese Club of America;Orlando Dog Training Club; Shenan-doah Valley Kennel Club.

In accordance with the Bylaws, awritten ballot shall be recorded ifrequested in writing by at least fiveDelegates, mailed to the Executive Sec-retary of the American Kennel Clubseven days prior to the meeting atw h i ch such election is scheduled. TheChair has been advised by the Execu-tive Secretary that no such request hasbeen received. Therefore, we will pro-ceed with the vote. An affirmative voteof four fifths of all Delegates in atten-dance is required.

The question is on the election of theColumbia Terrier Association of Mary-land as a member of the AmericanKennel Club. Those in favor, pleaseraise your hand. Thank you. Thoseopposed, please raise your hand.Thank you.

There are four-fifths in the affirma-tive. The Chair declares that theColumbia Terrier Association of Mary-land has been duly elected a memberof the American Kennel Club.

The question is on the election of theHavanese Club of America as an AKCmember club. Those in favor, pleaseraise your hand. Thank you. Thoseopposed, please raise your hand.Thank you.

There are four-fifths in the affirma-tive, and the Chair declares theHavanese Club of America a dulyelected member of AKC.

The question is on the election of theOrlando Dog Training Club as anAKC member club. Those in favor,please raise your hand. Thank you.

4 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


Those opposed, please raise yourhand. Thank you.

There are four-fifths in the affirma-tive and the Chair declares that theOrlando Dog Training Club is dulyelected an AKC member club.

The question is on the election of theShenandoah Valley Kennel Club as amember of the American Kennel Club.All those in favor, please raise yourhand. Thank you. All those opposed,please raise your hand. Thank you.

There were four-fifths in the affirma-tive and the Chair declares theShenandoah Valley Kennel Club aduly elected member of the AmericanKennel Club.

The Chair now calls on Ro nMenaker for the Chairman’s report.

M r. Menaker: Good morning. Fo rmore than 122 years, AKC has beenthe premier organization supportingpurebred dogs. The fancier relies upona registry of integrity, and the logisticalsupport behind our more than 18 , 50 0events annually.

The pet owner exhibits the pride ofowning an AKC-registered dog and theknowledge of their special dog’s lin-eage. What both fancier and pet ownershare is a love of their special dog andthe responsibility that goes with owner-ship. Registration, like membership,has its privileges and responsibilities.Educated fanciers know the uniquebenefits of AKC registration. For thepet owner as well, these benefitsinclude the option of 60 days of com-plimentary pet insurance, veterinarynetwork certificates, dog.com coupons,the AKC New Puppy Handbook andknowing that registration dollars fundcanine health research, public educa-tion and fighting for the rights ofresponsible breeders and dog owners.

AKC’s message is clear: Registrationdollars promote responsible dog own-ership. On September 17th, the Ameri-can Kennel Club celebrates Re s p o n s i-ble Dog Ownership Day, and onceagain more than 350 clubs and organi-zations nationwide are joining us byholding celebratory events that educatethe public and local communities. Aspart of this year’s celebration, we bringour message to life with the AKCResponsible Dog Owner “Pe tPromise,” which includes a “top 10” listof responsibilities for dog ownership.

You have a unique opportunity topromote the responsible dog owner-

ship message. I urge you to takeadvantage of your expertise and theresources AKC offers in conjunctionwith RDO Day. I also urge you as aDelegate to support RDO Day. Ahandout which you will receive at theconclusion of the meeting will give youspecific suggestions.

As part of this public education ini-tiative, I invite you to attend one of theRDO events in your area of the coun-try. With teamwork, the AKC and theFancy can make the greatest impact onthe lives of dogs by making it a priorityfor those who care for them.

Thank you very much.

M r. Sprung: Thank you, Ron. TheChair calls on Jim Stevens, ChiefFinancial Officer, for the financialreport.

M r. Stevens: Good morning. Ov e r-all, our financial results to date so farthis year have looked pretty good.Here’s an overview of what our currentnumbers from operations look like forthe first eight months of this year com-pared to the same period last year.

Total revenues were slightly abovelast year, while total expenses were upa modest two and a half percent com-pared to 2005. This produced an oper-ating profit of $3.2 million, versus $3.9million last year. Therefore, on anoperating basis, we are 17 percentbehind last year’s results. The fact thatthis number is declining is somethingwe’d like to improve upon. Please rec-ognize that these numbers exclude theimpact of our investments.

This picture changes considerablywhen we include our investments. Ourportfolio has produced unrealizedgains of almost two and a half milliondollars for the first eight months of thisy e a r. This was 36 percent better thanthe previous year. Consequently, ourbottom line reflects a net surplus of$5.7 million, which is just marginallybelow last year.

Before we get into the details of ourfinancial results, we are pleased to reportthat more registrations continue to becompleted on line. The percentage of lit-ters which are being registered on linehas now increased to 50 percent as ofthe end of last month. This compares to41 percent at the same time last year.

On-line dog registrations have alsoincreased significantly. Recently theyreached an all-time high of 20 percent,

and this number is 50 percent greaterthan the highest level of usage lasty e a r. We are certainly very pleasedwith these developments.

However, the trend with registrationrevenues continues to be disappoint-ing. The number of litter registrationsfor the first eight months of this year isdown one percent compared to theprevious year. As many of you mayrecall from the June Delegates meeting,we reviewed with you how dog regis-trations have been in a downward spi-ral since 1992. Unfortunately, thistrend still persists in 20 06. Dog regis-trations for the first eight months of thisyear have declined by almost six per-cent from 2005, which is not good.

You might ask the question, what isAKC doing about this? The answer isthat there is no quick fix or silver bulletto solve this problem. This is some-thing which AKC’s management teamand Board have struggled with since1992. What we can tell you today isthat the strategic business plan whichwas approved by the Board last yearhas identified various registration ini-tiatives. We do not expect that any ofthese initiatives will have an immediateimpact. In fact, it will probably take upto five years for the combination of allthese initiatives to produce meaningfulresults.

One of the principle strategies of theplan is to increase registrations byaddressing the needs of all customergroups. We are creating programswhich will reach all dog owners, breed-ers and fanciers. We recognize that inorder to be successful, we must reachall of these groups.

Here are some of the registration ini-tiatives which are currently underway.Earlier today, Keith Frazier talkedabout our outreach to veterinarians.This is one of the key audiences weneed to reach in order to positivelyimpact AKC registrations. Pr o g r a m slike Vet Net allow us to reach vets, butalso offer tangible benefits to dog own-ers and breeders.

During the past few months we haveintroduced other incentives, includinga simplified full litter registrationprocess for breeders and various dis-count coupons for litter registrations.Dog owners are receiving incentivess u ch as the previously described Ve tNet program and dog.com coupons.

We also are working on some addi-tional initiatives. Fully communicating

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 5


the benefits of AKC registration is bestdone before the buyer takes their newpet home. Therefore, AKC is embark-ing on a strategic relationship with Pet-land that involves educating theiremployees about the benefits of AKCregistration and providing their cus-tomers with materials about registeringwith us.

As you know, AKC registered dogshave always been sold in pet stores.This program we are designing willencourage the store to differentiateAKC registration from the myriad ofother for-profit registries. What sets ourregistry apart from others is our com-prehensive inspection and quality con-trol programs.

Working with pet stores will widenthe pool of AKC registered dogs andprovide the opportunity to improve thelives of dogs, educate owners, andenhance their pet ownership experi-ence via AKC programs and services.

Another aspect of our strategic planinvolves placing ads in publicationswhich reach a broad range of people inthe pet industry. These ads drive homea message specifically designed for thisgroup, that AKC registration is uniqueand preferred by pet owners. Theseads are intended to distinguish AKCfrom the other registries and highlightour longevity, high standards and over-all value.

We will keep you updated on thesenew initiatives as we continue to workon these in the future, so that we reachdog owners in ways we never havebefore. As a result, many dog ownerswill be introduced to the benefitswhich our organization has to offer. Weare confident that the impact of theseefforts will assist in reversing the down-ward trend in registrations. As youknow, registration revenues are criticalin providing the necessary funding formost of AKC’s programs.

Shifting gears back to our financialresults, here’s an overview of the com-position of our year-to-date operatingexpenses for this year versus the previ-ous two years.

As you see illustrated in this graph,I’m sure you will agree that manage-ment has been very effective in con-trolling expenses over the past threeyears. Year-to-date operating expensesfor the year are $41.4 million, and thiswas only two and a half percent higherthan 20 05. Payroll and benefitsexpense, which appears as gold on this

graph, continue to represent half of ourtotal expenses. This expense is 4.7 per-cent higher than last year, primarilydue to increased headcount. The totalof all other expenses are essentially inline with last year.

At the last Delegates meeting, wealso reported to you some financialdata concerning events. We noted thatthis area lost approximately ten milliondollars in 20 05. This year there havebeen 8,500 events to date, which wasup 12 and a half percent from 20 05 .The total number of entries in eventsso far this year has been 1.8 million,which is two and a half percent abovelast year.

Based on how the current year isshaping up, we would anticipate thatthis year’s loss from events will becomparable to last year. This leaves agreat deal to be desired, given the con-tinued erosion in our registration rev-enues.

One good piece of news is that aspreviously noted, our investments con-tinue to turbo charge our bottom line.Again, these investments generate again of two and a half million dollarsfor the first eight months of the year.We have been very fortunate that thisamount has continued to increase eachyear, as illustrated here. Our year-to-date return on investments through theend of last month was 4.8 percent,w h i ch frankly was a pretty decentreturn considering the roller coasterride in the stock market over the lastfew months.

Nevertheless, despite these favorablereturns, we should never take this forgranted. The turbulence in the stockmarket over the past few months clear-ly demonstrate this.

As you may recall, at our last meet-ing David Merriam talked about thefact that there was a need to establishan endowment fund reserve. TheBoard deemed this to be fiscally pru-dent in order to solidify AKC’s fin a n-cial future. We are pleased to reportthat the current balance in this reserveas of the end of last month was sevenmillion dollars.

In conclusion, I’d like to remind youagain that the strategic planning initia-tives regarding registrations don’t offera quick fix. We are only in the first fewmonths of what is anticipated to be afive-year plan. While we are pleasedwith our overall 20 06 financial resultsto date, we recognize that there is

always room for improvement.Thank you.(Applause)

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, Jim.Next on the agenda is the President’s

report.It is impossible to ignore that five

years ago almost to the day, on Se p-tember 11th, 20 01, many of us weregathered here in this very ballroom,when terrorists attacked the Wo r l dTrade Center and a great tragedy befellour nation. On that day amidst uncer-tainty, anxiety loomed and emotionsran high as we watched events unfoldjust across the river.

I would like us to pause for amoment of silence for those bravesouls and innocent civilians who losttheir lives on 9/11.

(A moment of silence is observed.)

M r. Sprung: As I look back on thatday with many thoughts, one feelingemerges about the composure andcompassion of the Delegate body.Immediately faced with personal andnational adversity, I was seated withyou and watched as we all pulledtogether as a community to offer assis-tance, whether it was to console oneanother, make sure loved ones in NewYork City were secure, reach out toyour family and your dogs, or dayslater help a stranded Delegate returnhome.

Born out of the Twin Towers tragedy,the compassion continued with yoursupport of our DOGNY fund-raisingproject to help search and rescue dogsnationwide for generations to come.

Two weeks ago we marked the firstanniversary of Hurricane Katrina andthe unparalleled devastation of the nat-ural disaster that followed in the Gulfregion for both man and his bestfriend. Again, I witnessed the caring,the giving and the unselfish behaviorof Delegates, fanciers and club mem-bers when a crisis needed attentionand action. Unprecedented donationsof all kinds and volunteers willing tohelp those in need became the com-mon and immediate response.

Despite such unexpected turbulentevents in our world, I want to praise allof you on your strength, your dedica-tion and your character when it mat-ters most. We not only share our strongloving bond with our dogs, but with allhumanity. I am truly proud to be part

6 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


of such a caring community — what wesimply call “the fancy.”

Thank you.(Applause)

Before proceeding to voting on theproposed amendments, let’s review theprocess for Delegates to consider theseamendments. AKC staff will projectproposed amendments that De l e g a t e sare being asked to consider on thescreens. Any proposed amendmentwill be typed and shown on thosescreens. If an amendment is adopted,the screens will reflect the proposal asamended. If an amendment is notadopted, the screens will project theoriginally proposed amendment.

Delegates continue the considerationof the proposed amendment as thusamended or not amended.

The Chair intends to take a standingvote for each motion that requires atwo-thirds vote. If needed, the Chairwill take an additional counted vote.

The first vote is on the proposedamendment to Article VI, Section 5 ofthe AKC Charter and Bylaws. Theamendment is proposed by the Boardof Directors. The amendment wouldprohibit those Delegates with a signifi-cant interest in organizations that arein competition with AKC from becom-ing or remaining part of AKC’s gov-erning body.

The proposal was read to you at theJune, 20 06 meeting and it has beenpublished in the last two issues of theA KC GAZE TTE. It appears in front ofyou on the cream worksheet. TheBoard recommends its approval, and atwo-thirds affirmative vote will berequired for adoption.

Is there any discussion?

The Chair recognized Naida Parker,Delegate for the Wampanoag Ke n n e lClub who spoke as follow:

Ms. Parker: If I could ask a questionso that I don’t have to say a lot if itdoesn’t apply. The Wampanoag Ke n-nel Club is concerned that this ruleprohibits AKC judges from judging inUKC events if they are licensed underthe AKC. Is that correct?

Mr. Sprung: That is not correct. Thisproposal is only relative to becoming aDelegate or remaining a Delegate.

Ms. Parker: Then I can assure themthat this doesn’t apply and I don’t have

to say anything else. Thank you.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you.

The Chair recognized Sue Goldberg,Delegate for the Lewiston-Au b u r nKennel Club, who spoke as follows:This may just come under housekeep-ing, but at the end of the of the firstsentence, would it not be more prudentto say “in competition with AKC or inconflict with its objectives” rather than“with its objects”?

M r. Crowley: It was just that word-ing was used to be consistent with theBylaws. Article III of the Bylaws liststhe “objects” of the American Ke n n e lClub.

Ms. Goldberg: And “objectives”might not be a better choice?

M r. Crowley: I don’t think we listobjectives, per se, anywhere. We do list“objects,” “specific objects.”

Ms. Goldberg: Thank you.


The Chair recognized Jo s e p hPendry, Delegate for the Saluki Club ofAmerica who spoke as follows: OurBoard has asked me to make the fol-lowing statement on this:

The Board believes that it is counter-productive to the AKC to make peoplechoose, and to do so diminishes AKC.Right now, AKC is the big game intown. AKC needs to use its status toprotect purebred dog ownership,responsible purebred hobby breedingand encourage the ancillary Sports thatpurebred owners find thrilling and ful-filling for themselves and their pets,s u ch as utility, work dog trials, lurecoursing, etc.

Instead of closing ranks, AKC needsto create a vision for the Sport to exist50 years from now. Part of this is creat-ing new types of participation, partner-ships with new organizations, insteadof exclusion or exclusivity. Plus a veryhonest assessment of AKC’s relation-ship with HSUS and other AR organi-zations. It’s not what AKC is doingnow.

Thank you.


The Chair called on Cindy Co o k e ,Delegate for the Kalamazoo Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

As I said at the meeting yesterday,I’m the person that this might haveapplied to most in the past. My club’sconcern is about the breadth of the lan-guage. Their problem is “deemed to bein conflict with its objects.” We are oneof the 200 clubs, for example, thatsigned letters opposing PAWS, and wewere concerned that that little confli c twith AKC might make us fall underthis rule. So what we agreed is thatsomeone who owns, works, isemployed by in the legal meaning ofthat term, is a director of or holds anoffice in a dog registry or dog eventgiving organization, period, that limita-tion we could accept. But as it’s writtennow, they felt it would be too hard forthe clubs to figure out what was includ-ed with “conflict with its objects.”

M r. Sprung: David Merriam willaddress this.

M r. Merriam: It’s the problem withlaundry lists or trying to list things inour Bylaws and what have you. Andthe reason why that phrase, is in there,is that it’s impossible to list all of thecriteria which might and ought to dis-qualify a person from another organi-zation to be part of our inner body.And so that’s why that broad phrase isthere. Cindy, I think what is importantis that the final decision as to whetheror not a person represents or is part ofan organization that is contrary to ourobjects, that final decision doesn’t restwith the Board. It rests with you peo-ple; and any proposed Delegate that’spresented first to the Board, can beapproved by the Board. Or if it’s notapproved by the Board, if the offeringclub wants that Delegate candidacy togo further and be presented to thisbody, it is. And so it will be up to youpeople to decide whether or not thatperson is from an organization whoseobjects are contrary to the interests ofAKC. And I think that’s the bestanswer. It’s up to the best judgment ofthis body right here to make that deter-mination.

Ms. Cooke: It makes it very hard forthe clubs, though. If they are going topick their Delegate and their Delegate,say, belongs to a hunting organizationthat’s had a dispute with AKC or, I

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 7


mean there’s so many possibilities.ASCA is another organization.

Almost all the Australian Shepherdpeople that came to AKC maintaintheir ties to ASCA. It’s a traditionalorganization for them. It’s going topenalize the people who hang ontotheir old traditions while going forwardwith the new. So as long as it’s thatbroad, our club can’t support it either.

The Chair recognized Patricia Lau-rans, Delegate for the German Wi r e-haired Pointer Club of America, whospoke as follows:

I’m very happy that I can agree withthe Board on an issue. And as I wasstanding here, hearing David sayexactly what I was going to say, I waseven more delighted that I could agreewith David. But someone here to myright said no, that’s not true. And thatis true.

And an example of that I believe —someone who did request that theirclub bring it back to the Board is inthis room, is with the Delegate bodynow. I believe that we have to protectour family, our home, our support andour American Kennel Club. Ev e nmore so because there have been moreand more registries and organizationswho compete with us. And maybe it’snot that they don’t wish us well, but it’stheir business and it affects their fundsor what it is they can accomplish.

And I agree that sometimes there aretimes in everyone’s life where youhave to make choices. And I believethat this is one time where we as a Del-egate body need to support this con-cept and know that, yes, in fact, thereis a safety valve whereby a club canask for review and it comes to the Del-egate body for a vote. I urge you tosupport this. Thank you.


The Chair recognized Barbara Wick-lund, Delegate for the Basset Ho u n dClub of America who spoke as follows:

I’m a little bit troubled by the word-ing “dog event giving organization,”which could include the Parent club fora not-yet recognized breed which isrunning club shows, and I know thatthere are a number of us in this roomwho as Delegates were involved instarting clubs for new breeds and heldoffice, and certainly could be includedunder this type of wording.

M r. Crowley: If it’s not an AKCapproved breed, holding events forthat breed would not be in competitionwith the American Kennel Club, sincewe don’t offer shows for that breed.Non recognized breeds would not bean issue.

Ms. Wi cklund: It just says “dogevent giving—”

M r. Crowley: In competition withthe American Kennel Club.

Mr. Merriam: It’s the whole phrase.

The chair recognized Ed m u n dSledzik, Delegate for the AmericanLhasa Apso Club, who spoke as fol-lows:

I listened to David, and David hassome good points, so I’m sitting heretrying to make a decision. But whatbothers me in this particular thing is:How many people have we ever hadsit here that have been from otherorganizations? One. Not when youwere a member of the organization?

Ms. Cooke: No, I worked there.

M r. Sledzik: So we have had oneproblem here. The reason why wehave the problem is because they aretrying to fix what happened to you,w h i ch was one person. Don’t we allwant to think about something? Wedon’t want to be on the Iraq problemto get excited about something goingon here? If it isn’t broken, why do youwant to fix it? We don’t have this prob-lem.

And the second reason why Ithought what David said was good,David told us that we make this deci-sion; so if we did have somebody thatwe knew was in this situation, we theDelegates have a right to vote himdown or vote him up. I want to keepthat. I don’t want to give that away.And David was rightly saying that Istill have it.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m say-ing, David. Okay? But I think thatthat’s the way to go. If somebodydoesn’t like that guy from the UK Cwho might be a Delegate here one ofthese days and he can’t judge anymore and he can’t write in our maga-zine because he’s from that “you knowwhat,” the first one I said is: “Yo uknow what” what?

You raise a question that none of useven think about and now we are look-ing in that direction. Are we in trou-ble? Do you know something we don’tknow? Are there going to be 100 peo-ple standing in line from these organi-zations taking us over? Especially if wewere going to vote them up or down.In other words, they’ve got to getthrough us. In other words, don’t votefor something that isn’t broken.

(Applause.)

The Chair recognized Va n e s s aWeber, Delegate for the English To ySpaniel Club of America, who spoke asfollows:

I am one of the few people that thisaffects perhaps on a slight basis, but it’sa different wrinkle. I am a member andhave been very active in a single breedregistry that is not the breed that I rep-resent here in the Delegate body, andI’ve been very involved with that reg-istry for many years. And in the past,not currently fortunately, I have beenthe president of one of their regionalclubs.

So if this goes into effect, I havebeen informed by the Board that aslong as I do not become an officeragain of the other club, that I can con-tinue being a member and Delegate ofthe English Toy Spaniel Club of Amer-ica, because in that situation there willbe no conflict.

What concerns me is given DavidMerriam’s comments, I am even moreconfused now than I was before as towho has the say, or any say, as to whatmy involvement might be. Since thiswhole thing began, I’ve been con-cerned that it will or could lend itself toa witch-hunt mentality.

And I just want to be sure that formyself or anybody else who happensto have a second breed, in my case Ihave several breeds, all of whichexcept for Cavaliers are AKC regis-tered, and I’ve been very involved inmany different breeds over the years. Ijust want to be sure that there are somesafeguards in place so that people don’tneed to feel ashamed, embarrassed, orin any way compromised by havingdual allegiances of any sort under thesecircumstances. I just want to be surethat people are fair.

And that is what really concerns methe most about this. I have consideredsuggesting that the wording bechanged to exclude single breeds or

8 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


single breed registries, because the situ-ation is so minor. But I really think thatwe need to ask some larger questionsabout the way this entire process goes.

And I would like some more clarifi-cation as to who responds and who isin charge, whether it’s the Parent club— what rights the Parent clubs have toask their Delegates to serve whenthere’s the entire Delegate body thatmakes these decisions, or at what pointthe Board gets involved in this stuff.I’m still very confused about it.

Mr. Sprung: This is not a Parent clubissue. This is an issue for every mem-ber club, and all of the Delegates makethe final decision.

Ms. Weber: As a whole vote of thebody?

M r. Sprung: As a vote of the body,correct.

Ms. Weber: All right.

The Chair recognized ThomsonStanfield, Delegate for the Te r r y - A l lKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

Our club has a problem with thepart that says “deemed to be in compe-tit ion with AKC.” I disagree withDavid in the fact that it doesn’t saywho “deems.” That could be you, thatcould be the Board, that could be me.We feel that that needs to be defined. Ifit is the Delegate body as you havestated, then it needs to say that.

M r. Crowley: Are you proposing aspecific amendment to that?

M r. Stanfield: No, Jim, I’m not. I’mjust trying to point out. I was the onethat was on Pat’s right that said I don’tthink so.

M r. Sprung: Mr. Merriam wishes torespond.

M r. Merriam: I can understand thedesire to have exact specificity. But ifyou look up at the other categories,you don’t have exact specificity inthose either. And the same procedureapplies with this last proposed provi-sion as would apply to the other ones;and that if the Board when it first con-siders an application for a De l e g a t emakes a determination that a personfalls within one of those disqualifica-

tion things and doesn’t approve it, andthe proffering club requests that it goforward to the Delegates, it’s then up tothe good judgment of the Delegates tomake that final decision.

So it’s just the same, the procedure isjust the same, with the proposedamendment clause, provision, as withthe previous ones. And it is up to thisgroup to make the final decision if theBoard does not previously approve theDelegate.

I hope that’s clear.

The Chair recognized James Smith,Delegate for the Dalmatian Club ofAmerica, who spoke as follows:

Having been involved in the AKCmanagement when we had to deal withindividuals who we felt their positionwas in conflict with the American Ken-nel Club, not organizations, but indi-viduals who wanted to be De l e g a t e s ,who were adamantly opposed toAmerican Kennel Club policies, proce-dures and operations, it seems to methat if we are going to protect our-selves, and I am fully in favor of that,that we need to expand this to includeindividuals, whether they be membersof an organization or not, whose posi-tion is in direct conflict with the objectsof the American Kennel Club.

I’m not making that proposal, I’msuggesting we go back and add that toit.


The Chair recognized Dr. Ge r r yMeisels, Delegate for the St. PetersburgDog Fanciers Association, who spokeas follows:

I would like to comment on thenotion that we need to unite against acommon foe. As we discussed yester-day in the caucus, there is a big issuefor all of us who love the Sport andwho love purebred dogs. But that isnot the same as we are talking abouthere. It is an external common enemyand we need to do the best we can towork together and build alliances withas many organizations as we can.

However, we also live in the realworld. And the real world is that weare in fact in competition with otherorganizations that happen to have thesame interests as we do. If you thinkthat is not the case, then look at ourstatistics on registrations. Dogs are stillgetting registered; they are just getting

registered elsewhere, not with theAKC.

Therefore, some kind of a rule ormotion like this one is appropriate insome form. The issue that I hear has todo with whether or not we trust theBoard and we trust ourselves to makethe right decisions. And so I wouldsuggest that we have elected the Board.There is a mechanism involved inw h i ch we can appeal a wrong recom-mendation by the Board, and thereforeI think we should proceed and takeaction on this, on this motion.


The Chair recognized Don Ad a m s ,Delegate from the Cudahy Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

It all boils down to me as to what themeaning of “significant interest” is andwho makes that determination. It’spretty easy to determine; it’s prettymuch an up or down: Professional han-dler, that’s pretty easy to understand;trainer of dogs, that’s pretty easy tounderstand. I’m under the impressionthat no professional handler would beapproved, nor could a Parent club, orany club for that matter, send that Del-egate forward.

If that is not the case, I am surprised.It seems to me that those items arepretty clear. When we talk about a sig-nificant interest, what David indicatesis that the Delegate body would be thefinal arbiter of what we deem to be sig-n i ficant. That seems to be a change. Iwelcome it. Therefore, in the case of asmall registry of a particular outcropbreed would be deemed to be signifi-cant if that particular individual werebrought forward. A larger, more obvi-ous, competitive interest might be dis-approved by the Delegate body, butthe Delegate body would be the finalarbiter. If that is, in fact, what the poli-cy is going to be, I don’t see how anyof us sitting here could vote againstourselves as making that determinationand, therefore, I approve it.

But what I’m concerned about is thatfive years from now, ten years fromnow, we forget who decides what “sig-nificant” is. Given those assurances, Ithink most of the people in this bodywould approve this amendment.Thank you.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you. And I reit-erate: It is the full Delegate body in

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 9


attendance at the respective meetingthat would make the decision.

The Chair recognized Wi l l i a mGreen, Delegate for the Rio GrandeKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

I don’t have my Bylaws in front ofme, so you will forgive me if thisproves to be an ignorant question. Thisprovision would cover who maybecome or remain a Delegate. Shouldthe Board use this provision to removeor declare ineligible a sitting Delegate,would that action by the Board also besubject to appellate review by the Del-egate body? Thank you.

Mr. Menaker: It is today as well.

Mr. Green: Thank you.

M r. Sprung: Did you hear theanswer?

Mr. Green: Was that affirmative?

Mr. Merriam: Yes, the answer is yes.To remove any Delegate requires youraction.

Mr. Green: Thank you.

The Chair recognized Jo a ch i mBlutreich, Delegate from the PiedmontKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

My club was upset about the specificwording, “but not be limited to” on thelast phrase of the — “significant interestwould include but not be limited to.”You will notice that the others, onethrough D, do not have such a generalstatement.

As the thing stands now, my club hasinstructed me to vote against this.However, if the last phrase is amendedto just omit the words “but not be lim-ited to” and the comma after, then theclub has no difficulty with this propos-al. The feeling is that as long as we arespecific, it is easy to approve or disap-prove something. And if in the futurethe Board thinks that another couple ofconditions should be added, we canalways decide at that time whetherthose additional conditions are accept-able or not. Thank you.

M r. Sprung: Is that an amendment,sir?

Mr. Blutreich: Yes, it is.

Mr. Sprung: Is there a second?

Ms. Goldeberg: Second.

Mr. Sprung: So seconded. Jim, couldyou restate the amendment?

M r. Crowley: Yes, it would say “asignificant interest would include,” justtake out the words “but not be limitedto,” as is now on the screen, listing spe-cific prohibitions.

M r. Sprung: Is there discussion onthis amendment?

The Chair recognized Cynthia Gar-man, Delegate for the Lancaster Ke n-nel Club, who spoke as follows:

My liking for this entire propositionis based on my concerns that there aresome small clubs that animal rightsgroups could basically take over. Idon’t think — I’ll use “animal rightsgroups” so we are not naming some-one who will come slap me upside thehead. But suppose that they have takenover the Boondocks Kennel Club.B o o n d o cks has been a member clubsince 1934 and they wish to send aDelegate.

Right now, if they are the nationaldirector of Animal Rights Group, thiswould cover it — or, no — without thislanguage, this would cover it. Rightnow without this overall amendment,we would have no hook to hang ourhat on to keep Boondocks’ De l e g a t ecoming forward and becoming a partof the Delegate body. And we all knowhow much information we get as Dele-gates.

When we use the phrase “but notlimited to,” and obviously this wasengineered with David’s legal knowl-edge and a little bit of others’, there isnothing to keep animal rights organiza-tions from saying, “Okay, let’s pick Joe.He’s not on our Board of Directors, heis not an officer, but he’s our boy,” andhis only purpose in being sent to theDelegate body is to make him a Dele-gate in essence on behalf of AnimalRights Group that’s taken over PodunkKennel Club — Boondocks Ke n n e lClub. Okay.

Anyhow, that is I think one of theongoing concerns. We have the profitmotive, but we also have the fact that alot of the danger to the best interests ofpurebred dogs is coming from people

who have a very, very different idea ofwhat the well-being of purebred dogsis.

So I would urge that this amend-ment, although well intended, be voteddown.

Ms. Laurans: I think the amendmenthas some merit if your club does notknow that there is the provision where-by the club can appeal the decision ofthe Board to the Delegate body, andthe Delegate body has the final vote. Ibelieve with a full understanding ofthat provision, which ensures the factthat the Delegate body does not deemthe decision or action of the Board tobe unfair or unfit, I think with that pro-vision, we are safe; and, therefore, Ialso suggest that we defeat the amend-ment.


Ms. Cooke: Not on the amendment.One of the problems I see with this isthat we have got the same language inthis and the judge’s policy. And so I’mconcerned about how defining “signifi-cant interests” differently in one placethan another may affect things.

M r. Sprung: This is not relevant tothe amendment.

Ms. Cooke: Yes; I’m just saying thatwith that change in the language, “sig-nificant interest” is being defined oneway in the rule and a different way inthe policy.

M r. Sprung: This amendment hasnot yet been passed.

Ms. Cooke: No, I’m saying if it doespass, we will have “significant interest”defined in different ways.

The Chair recognized John Ho n i g ,Delegate for the Worcester Co u n t yKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

I apologize, but I have troubleunderstanding the whole thing for thefollowing reason: Right now, a clubcan bring forward any Delegate thatthey wish. It goes to the Board, and theBoard for any reason can refuse theDelegate. They have the right. I don’thave to limit you to specific things. Youhave a right for any reason to turn theDelegate down. They have a right thento appeal it to all of you, the Delegate

10 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


b o d y. I don’t see what we’re doing.Thank you.


The Chair recognized Denise De a n ,Delegate from the Bernese Mo u n t a i nDog Club of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

One quick comment: I belong to anall-breed club that luckily is not a mem-ber club, because they have been takenover by a local humane society bunchof people and we have major, majorproblems. Luckily they can’t send a Del-egate because they are not a memberclub. Anyway, and I would like to callfor the question.


A Delegate: Second.

Mr. Sprung: The question is — we aretaking a vote on stopping discussion. Allthose in favor of calling the question,raise your hands. Thank you.

Opposed? Thank you.The discussion is over, we are now

going to vote the motion to strike thewording “but not be limited to.” This isa majority vote.

All those in favor of the amendment,please raise your hand? Thank you.

All those opposed? Thank you.The amendment does not pass. We

are back to the original amendment.

The Chair recognized Judith Daniels,Delegate from the Mt. Baker Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

I would like to expand briefly onwhat John Honig, said because Iabsolutely agree with him. David is cor-rect in the way a Delegate is proposed.The Board, if the Board accepts a Dele-gate’s credentials, the Delegate is seated.If the Board does not accept a De l e-gate’s credentials, the club can thenappeal to the Delegate body and theDelegate body has the final word.

But I would like to pose a for-instance. If someone such as Joe what’s-his-name from the club that no one rec-ognizes applies to become a Delegate, ifthe Board knows he’s an animal rightsperson, for instance, the Board cannegate his credentials. If the Board doesnot know that, the Board would seatthat Delegate. There is then no furtherconsideration by the Delegate body.

Right now we have in place the pro-cedure that exists. I cannot imagine that

someone as high profile as the peoplewe may be trying to overtly identifywith this amendment would not be rec-ognized by our Board of Directors. So ifthey don’t recognize one of these peo-ple, the person is seated. If they do rec-ognize it, the person is not seated andthen we have the recourse. I think this isunnecessarily redundant. We have aprocedure in place. Thank you.

Mr. Menaker: Can I speak about this.I very rarely speak to amendments.

John, with all due respect, the answerto your question is: It’s essential that weset out what the intent is, not just for theDelegates who are here today, but forthe Delegates who will be here tomor-row. We need to set specific guidelines.

Think about the specific exclusionswe have today. We specifically excludedog show magazines, pet food employ-ees, etc. If our Bylaws are to be general,why would we have that kind of speci-ficity? The Board believes that the Dele-gate body should have that authorityand responsibility. I have confidence inyou. I hope you have confidence inyourself.

This is something we should bedoing. Let’s keep the sport alive,healthy and well. Let us not let anyonewith conflicting interests infiltrate.Those of you who think we have littleproblems, remember that little prob-lems turn into big problems. Thisamendment is sorely needed, and Ithink anybody that uses common senseis going to understand that the Board isnot taking responsibility away from theDelegates. The Board is in fact givingthe Delegates the responsibility to makethe ultimate determination. But let’s notsit around, as Judi says, two years fromnow and have people debating what thisbody intended to put in place. Let’smake our intentions clear.

What I as Chairman recommend toyou is that we set criteria so that 10years from now, or 100 years from now,everyone will understand what we hadin mind. Let’s not leave it up to inter-pretation. I strongly urge you to supportthis amendment. I believe it is in thebest interests of this organization.

Thank you very much.

The Chair recognized Dr. I. LehrBrisbin, Delegate of the StaffordshireTerrier Club of America, who spoke asfollows:

Over the 27 years that I’ve been a

Delegate, I think it should be obviousthat my heart and soul is with the AKC.But if there is one thing that I am moreconcerned about than the fiscal welfareand competition of AKC, it’s the Sportand the right to own dogs in this coun-t r y. And if there’s anything I worryabout more than the AKC, it’s the peo-ple who are coming and knocking at thedoor to get our breed and tell us thatthey have to be neutered or we cannotown them or we have to have themunder restricted conditions.

When it came time to take a standand go into court in Toledo, Ohio, theUKC was in court defending our dogs.The AKC was not. I had great hopeswhen I came back as a Delegate that wecan re-discover the day back when BillStifel and Fred Miller sat down togetherwith ADOA and formed the CanineDefense Fund, saying, “we’ve got tounite against a common enemy,” GerryMeisel’s point. I see this as driving awedge. And when we get the problembeat, the big problem before us now,then we can go back and worry aboutthese kinds of things. But if I was amember of the Humane Society of theUnited States, I would be very pleasedto see this kind of thing happening. Itmeans that the major dog registry orga-nizations are picking at each other.Maybe the time will come for that, butthe time is not yet. Please let’s hangtogether so we don’t hang separately.Thank you.

Mr. Menaker: In fact, Lehr, the presi-dent of the HSUS hopes we don’t passthis, so that any organization with objec-tives that are different than ours canindeed become Delegates.

And let’s not fool ourselves: Yo udon’t want the president of HSUS andothers to infiltrate this organization.Let’s not bury our heads in the sand,Lehr. And you may have a specific issuewith the UKC. We are not suggestingthat we cannot work with the UnitedKennel Club. We are not suggesting thatwe cannot join forces and fight legisla-tion together. We want that as well.

It’s far better to be proactive than it isto be reactive. We don’t need an attor-ney asking where in our Bylaws it statesthat someone with a significant interestin an organization deemed to be incompetition with AKC may be exclud-ed from AKC’s Delegate body. It is veryimportant that our Bylaws state clearlywhat our intentions were and that they

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1 1


be as specific as possible. Once again, I urge you to support this

amendment because I believe it is goodfor the sport and good for this body.Let me clarify for the record: Thisamendment is not meant to suggest inany way that we not work with theUKC or for that matter any other orga-nization on mutually agreeable con-cerns. It wasn’t that long ago that I wasaccused of sitting down with HSUS onPAWS. I hope you know now that I’ma person who believes in inclusion, notexclusion, but I certainly don’t wantcompetitors voting on issues that areimportant to the AKC. I do not wantsomebody voting or sitting in this bodywho is a member of HSUS or a likeorganization.

The Chair recognized Steven Glad-stone, Delegate for the Reno Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

I may be the only one here who haspersonal experience with this section ofthe Bylaws. I have to reiterate what Ronjust said to you about the definitionalcriteria that’s included in this. It lendssupport and credence to either a deter-mination by your Board or ultimately adetermination by this body to excludesomeone. And it is the basis upon whichthere is something to point to when weend up in court saying: “They had noright to keep me out because I don’t fitany of these criteria.” That’s what it’s allabout.

I will assure you in 1994, the Bylawswere amended to make certain that thisDelegate body always has the last wordon the election of a Delegate. In 1993 ,that was not the case. In 1993, theBoard by inaction could keep the Dele-gates from voting on any proposed Del-egate. The amendment, that was thenreferred to as the Gladstone amend-ment, requires that if the club which issponsoring that Delegate wants to takean appeal, the Board cannot just let it sitin the Boardroom and die. So the finalword is always up to this body.

But this language gives you the crite-ria to support whatever determinationthis body makes. So I join Ron in urg-ing you to adopt this.

The Chair recognized Carl Ho l d e r ,Delegate for the Beaumont Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

I was going to speak to some of thesame things that Steve did. There aremany organizations now that are even

putting this language on their member-ship applications so that they’ll have alegitimate stand when someone joinstheir organization that is divisive on theobjects of the organization. And that’sprimarily the purpose of this.

And the Beaumont Kennel Club seesnothing wrong with this, because it’s justthe way things are going in today’s soci-ety and it will help protect the Ameri-can Kennel Club. And if someone doesget by the Board and is seated and it’sfound out, then the Delegate bodywould have the right to remove thatperson. Isn’t that correct?

Mr. Sprung: That’s correct.

Mr. Merriam: Yes. Thank you.

The Chair recognized Norman Ke n-ney, Delegate for the Hawaiian KennelClub, who spoke as follows:

Can we call the question?(Applause)Mr. Sprung: Is there a second?

A Delegate: Second.

Mr. Sprung: The question is going tobe voted on.

The question is on the proposedamendment to Article VI, Section 5 ofthe AKC Charter and Bylaws. Those infavor, please stand? Thank you. Be seat-ed.

Those opposed, please stand. Thankyou. Be seated.

There are two thirds in the affirmativeand the amendment is passed.

We will now break for lunch. Lunchwill be served in the Terrace Room onthis floor. We will resume at one o’clock.

(The luncheon recess)

M r. Sprung: Delegates, please takeyour seats.

The next item is the tellers’ report. Inow call on Michael Leone of Ernst &Young to read the tellers’ report for theDelegate Standing Committees.

M r. Leone: Good afternoon, every-one. I’m here to report the tellers’results:

For the All Breeds Clubs Committee,the following four candidates wereelected for three year terms: Carl C.Ashby III, Dr. Fred C. Bock II, CharlesJ. Foley, and Andrew G. Mills.

For the Bylaws Committee, the fol-lowing three candidates were elected forthree-year terms: Sylvia Arrowwood,Lynne Myall, and Diane Taylor.

Also for the Bylaws Committee, thefollowing two candidates were electedfor two-year terms: Steve Schmidt andClaire Steidel.

Also for the Bylaws Committee thefollowing candidate was elected for aone-year term: Sylvia Meisels.

For the Canine Health Co m m i t t e e ,the following three candidates wereelected for three-year terms: SusanLaCroix Hamil, Melanie Steele andCindy Vogels.

Also for the Canine Health Commit-tee, the following candidate was electedfor a two-year term: Arlene Czech.

For the Dog Show Rules Committee,the following four candidates wereelected for three year terms: Neil Bates,Cynthia Miller, Charles Schaefer, andRobert Schroll.

For the Field Trial and Hunting Te s tEvents Committee, the following threecandidates were elected for three-yearterms: Kenneth Marden, A. Nelson Sillsand Joan Tabor.

For the Perspectives Editorial Co m-mittee, the following six candidateswere elected for two-year terms: Carl C.Ashby III, Crécia Closson, Me d o r aHarper, Blackie Nygood, CarolWilliamson and Lynn Worth.

Also for the Perspectives Ed i t o r i a lCommittee, the following candidate waselected for a one-year term: DanielSmyth, Esq.

Thank you.

M r. Sprung: There is no electionrequired for the following committees,and the Delegates nominated for thesecommittees are seated. Delegate Ad v o-cacy and Advancement Co m m i t t e e ;Herding, Earthdog, and Co u r s i n gEvents Committee; Obedience, Tr a ck-ing and Agility Committee and the Par-ent Clubs Committee.

The Executive Secretary will read thenames of the Delegates who will serve

12 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


on these committees.

M r. Crowley: Delegates who selfnominated and will serve on the Dele-gate Advocacy and Ad v a n c e m e n tCommittee are Dick Blair, Dr. I. LehrBrisbin, Jr., Carol Plesur, Edmund R.Sledzik and Liz Sullivan.

Delegates who self nominated andwill serve on the Herding, Earthdog,and Coursing Events Committee are:Don H. Adams, Carol Fisher, ClaudiaFrank, Maria Sacco.

Delegates who self nominated andwill serve on the Delegate ObedienceTr a cking and Agility Committee are:James M. Ashton, Jack Cadalso, Vi r-ginia M. Mayhall, Maureen R. Se t t e r ,Barbara E. Swisher.

Delegates who self nominated andwill serve on the Parent Clubs Co m-mittee are: Ricky Blackman, Pa t r i c i aW. Laurans, Karen Mays, Peter Piusz,and Carl Trehus.

M r. Sprung: The organizationalmeetings of the newly elected StandingCommittees will take place immediate-ly upon adjournment. The Co o r d i n a t-ing Committee will hold its election atthe December meeting. After adjourn-ment, Committees will be meeting inthe At l a n t i c /Burlington rooms on thisfloor and staff will be in the hallway todirect you.

We now go back to the balloting.The second vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 16, Section 4 ofthe “Rules Applying to Dog Shows:Dog Show Entries, Conditions of DogsAffecting Eligibility.” The proposedamendment was submitted by the Del-egate Dog Show Rules Committee andapproved by your Board of Directors.

The amendment would clarify therequirements to become a Championof Record. The proposal was read toyou at the June 2006 meeting and hassince been published in two issues ofthe A KC GAZE TTE. It is on the blueworksheet.

The Board recommends itsapproval. A two thirds affirmative voteis required for adoption.

Is there any discussion?The question is on Chapter 16, Sec-

tion 4 of the Rules Applying to Do gShows.

Those in favor, please stand? Thankyou, be seated.

Those opposed, please stand? Thankyou, be seated.

There are two thirds in the affir m a-tive and the amendment is adopted.

The third vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 3, Section 8 ofthe Field Trial Rules and Standard Pro-cedures for Retrievers: Making Appli-cation to Hold a Field Trial. The pro-posed amendment was submitted bythe Retriever Advisory Committee andapproved by the Board of Directors.

The revision is intended to actuallystate the conflict of distance betweentrials, which is being reduced to 20 0miles from 350 miles previously used.The intent is to reduce the entry size inthe all-age stakes by providing trials ofcloser proximity.

The proposal was read to you at theJune 2006 meeting, and has been pub-lished in two issues of the Gazette. It ison the yellow worksheet. The Boardrecommends its approval. The effec-tive date, if adopted, is January 1, 2007.

A two thirds affirmative vote isrequired for adoption. Is there any dis-cussion?

The question is on Chapter 3, Se c-tion 8 of the Field Trial Rules and Stan-dard Procedures For Retrievers.

Those in favor, please stand. Thankyou, be seated.

Those opposed, please stand. Thankyou, be seated.

There are two thirds in the affir m a-tive, and the amendment is adopted.

The fourth vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 14 Sections 9and 10 of the Field Trial Rules andStandard Procedures for Re t r i e v e r s :Rules for Retriever Trials. The pro-posed amendment was submitted bythe Retriever Advisory Committee andapproved by the Board of Directors.

The revisions are to ensure the cor-rect identification of the stakesinvolved. The proposal was read toyou in June and published twice in theAKC GAZETTE. It is on the grey work-sheet. The Board recommends itsapproval.

The effective date if it gets adoptedwill be January 1, 20 07. A two thirdsaffirmative vote is required for adop-tion. Is there any discussion?

The question is on Chapter 14, Sec-tions 9 and 10 of the Field Trial Rules

and Standard Procedures for Re t r i e v-ers.



There is a two-thirds majority in theaffirmative, and the amendment isadopted.

The fifth vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 14, Section 10of the Field Trial Rules and StandardProcedures for Retrievers: Rules forRetriever Trials. The proposed amend-ment was submitted by the Re t r i e v e rAdvisory Committee and approved byyour Board of Directors.

The revision is to encourage interest-ed in hunting test competitors to enterand compete in licensed field trials.The proposal was read to you in June,20 06. It has been published twice inthe A KC GAZE TTE and is on the tanworksheet. The Board recommends itsapproval.

The effective date will be January 1,20 07. A two thirds affirmative vote isrequired for adoption. Is there any dis-cussion?

The question is on Chapter 14, Sec-tion 10 of the Field Trial Rules andStandard Procedures For Retrievers.




The sixth vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 14, Section 11of the Field Trial Rules and StandardProcedures for Retrievers: Rules forRetriever Trials. The proposed amend-ment was submitted by the Re t r i e v e rAdvisory Committee and approved bythe Board of Directors.

The revision is intended to provideauthorization for an earlier start, andtherefore additional time to completethe stake, and in certain circumstances,for the approving of a third all-age trialin a calendar year.

The proposal was read to you inJune and published twice in theGazette. It is on the cherry coloredworksheet. The Board recommends itsapproval. The effective date will beJanuary 1, 20 07. A two-thirds affirma-tive vote is required for adoption. Isthere any discussion?

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1 3


The question is on Chapter 14, Sec-tion 11 of the Field Trial Rules andStandard Procedures for Retrievers.




The final vote is on the proposedamendment to Chapter 14, Section 18,of the Field Trial Rules and StandardProcedures for Retrievers: Rules forRetriever Trials. The proposed amend-ment was submitted by the Re t r i e v e rAdvisory Committee and approved bythe Board of Directors.

The addition of Section 18 is to pro-vide rules governing junior handlers.The proposal was read to you in Juneand twice published in the A KCGAZETTE. It is on the lilac worksheet.The Board recommends its approval.The effective date being January 1,2007. A two-thirds affirmative vote willbe required for adoption. Is there anydiscussion?

A Delegate: That’s not what’s on thescreen, Dennis.

Mr. Sprung: Let’s check. It’s in the packet. We don’t have it

on the screens right now. It’s on thelilac worksheet. It is Chapter 14, Se c-tion 18.




The Chair now calls on DavidRoberts, Assistant Vice President, andKristi Munchel of our Internal Consult-ing Group to give you an update of theOnline Breeders Classifieds.

M r. Roberts: As we said we would,Kristi and I would like to give you anupdate today on AKC’s highly success-ful online breeder classified service.AKC implemented online breederclassifieds, which we call OBC, onOctober 28th, 20 04. After the De l e-gates meeting in September of 2004 allbreeders who registered a litter weresent a flyer about OBC and were invit-ed to list their litters for free. Thisintroductory offer was designed to

encourage use of the new system andto ensure that there were listings avail-able for puppy buyers to search on thefirst day that the service was launched.

The flyers allowing breeders to listfor free was discontinued once the ser-vice was introduced in late October of20 05. Since implementation, breedershave paid $30 to list a litter for 60days. Breeders are allowed to renewthe listing once after this time hasexpired for an additional 60 days. Alldogs listed are from AKC registered lit-ters and are AKC registerable.

When the puppy buyers visit theOBC sites, they are exposed to awealth of educational information,which we will go over in further detaillater in this presentation.

First let’s review what we are tryingto accomplish by offering this service.At the September 20 04 De l e g a t e sforum, staff presented an overview ofthe AKC online breeder classified ser-vice. In this presentation, staff statedthat the primary goal of OBC was toincrease the percentage of individualdogs registered from each litter, other-wise known as the blue slip return rate.

By establishing a relationship withthe AKC at the beginning of theprocess when someone first starts look-ing for a puppy, we felt that the newdog owner would be more inclined toregister the dog with us after they pur-chased the dog with our help.

In addition to the primary goal, staffi d e n t i fied three secondary goals. First,we thought OBC would be a great edu-cational tool for the public, helpingthem find the right dog from a respon-sible breeder. AKC wanted to becomea lifelong resource for the new dogowners, so this was also a very impor-tant consideration.

Second, OBC could help breedersfind buyers for their AKC registerablepuppies. Contrary to many web-basedpuppy websites, OBC strongly encour-ages personal contact between thepuppy buyer and the breeder. Thepuppy buyer is encouraged to visit thehome of the breeder, to see the damand possibly the sire; to see the littermates; and to ask all the appropriatequestions.

A third goal of the online breederclassified service was to generate addi-tional revenue. I’ll turn it over to KristiM u n chel now, and she’ll talk to youabout whether or not the OBC is meet-ing its stated goals. Thank you.

Ms. Munchel: Thank you, David.As David mentioned, the primary

goal of OBC was to increase the blueslip return rate. As you can see fromthis chart, this goal has been accom-plished. Litters listed in OBC have ahigher blue slip return rate than littersnot listed in OBC. The blue line on thegraph represents litters not listed onOBC, and the orange line representslitters listed on OBC. The percentageon the left indicates the blue slip returnrate by month. So for example, theblue slip return rate for all litters listedon OBC in December of 2004 was 49percent, while the blue slip return ratefor all litters not listed on OBC inDecember 20 04 was 42 percent, aseven percent difference.

The average blue slip return rate forthe period shown for OBC litters was3.6 percent higher per month than forn o n -OBC litters. This is particularlysignificant given the average litter sizefor OBC litters is 6.6 puppies, whilethe average litter size for non-OBC lit-ters is 4.7.

You will notice that the blue slipreturn rate for both OBC and non-OBC litters is highest in 20 04 andearly 20 05. This is as expected,because dog owners continue to indi-vidually register dogs for up to twoyears after litters are registered. For thisreason, the last month included in thisanalysis is January of 2006.

As David mentioned, staff believesthis increase has occurred becausepuppy buyers who utilize OBC to finda breeder are then much more likely toreturn to AKC to register those pup-pies.

Another goal of AKC OBC is tohelp puppy buyers select the rightbreed for their lifestyle, and to find alocal breeder with available AKC reg-isterable puppies. Through Au g u s t ,20 06, the OBC website has receivedmore than 3.1 million searches. This issignificant from a public educationstandpoint, because when puppy buy-ers visit the OBC site, they areexposed to a wealth of information,including links to the Parent club, Par-ent club breeder referral contacts,breed rescue groups, local AKC clubs,the breed standards, tips about pur-chasing a puppy, and much more.

OBC encourages the puppy buyer tofirst visit the AKC Parent club website,to research the various breeds, to visit

14 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


the home of the breeder, to ask thebreeder appropriate questions, toobtain a bill of sale, and to obtain AKCregistration papers. In addition to theeducational links, breeders who list onOBC have the opportunity to provideadditional information about theirbreeding practices to potential puppybuyers via the breeder profile.

Since its inception, more than 50percent of all listings have had a com-pleted breeder profile.

Another secondary goal of OBC isto help AKC breeders place their AKCregisterable puppies. This graph repre-sents the number of AKC litters listede a ch month. You will notice that thenumber of OBC listings per month hasgrown gradually over time, peaking at1,602 in May, 2006. The average num-ber of listings per month is more than1200 listings. This represents three per-cent of all AKC litters. ThroughAugust 20 06, there have been almost30,000 listings. The consistent use ofOBC and the large number of listingsmakes it clear it is a valuable resourcefor breeders.

Finally, the last secondary goal ofOBC is to generate additional rev-enues. Through August, 2006, the saleof OBC listings has resulted in a prof-itable return. The program is struc-tured so that the cost to AKC toadminister the service is minimal.

In September of 2005, staff surveyedbreeders who had listed a litter onAKC’s OBC website. The purchase ofthe survey was to determine what typeof breeder was using OBC and ways toimprove the service. 1, 427 breederscompleted the survey, all of whom hadpurchased at least one OBC listing.

Based on the survey results, manyOBC users are exhibitors and clubmembers; 39 percent being exhibitors,34 percent being club members. 57percent often use the newspaper toadvertise their litters or puppies, mak-ing OBC a very viable alternative.

Sporting group breeds and toybreeds are the most often listed on theservice. We also asked some questionsabout the level of satisfaction with theservice. The results: OBC users are sat-isfied. They are likely to purch a s eanother listing, and they are satisfiedwith how easy it is to sign up for a list-ing, and they found the price to bevery reasonable. They would recom-mend OBC to a friend.

We also asked the survey takers for

suggestions to improve OBC. Theyrecommended adding a freeform textbox to the listing where they couldprovide additional information aboutthe sire, the dam and the puppies inthe litter. They expressed interest inproviding pictures of the puppy andthe litter as well as the sire and thedam. Additionally, they would like list-ings to provide color, sex and mark-ings for each puppy. And lastly, itwould be a nice feature to allow peoplesearching for a puppy to request an e-mail when a particular breed becameavailable in their area.

Overall, the survey results were verypositive. Staff is considering the sugges-tions made in the survey and will con-tinue to collect feedback about the sur-vey from the breeders using it as wellas from Delegates and fanciers.

At this time I’ll turn the presentationback over to David to talk to you aboutthe enhancements that have beenmade to OBC since it was launch e dtwo years ago.

Mr. Roberts: Thank you.Based on feedback that we have

received from Delegates, club mem-bers and breeders, the AKC has madeseveral enhancements to the servicesince it was launched. First of all, thebreeder profile questions have beenchanged. We have split the Parent club,specialty club membership into twoseparate questions. Secondly, we areasking that if the breeder ch e cks thatthey have performed the healthscreens that are recommend by theParent club, that the sire and damshould have these health tests record-ed.

The Parent club membership listsare now provided to the AKC staff sowhen a breeder indicates that they area member of a Parent club, this is veri-fied at the AKC. We have a direct linkto OFA. Potential puppy buyers caneasily go to the OFA web site for moredetailed information about the dog,which has an OFA or an OFEL num-ber recorded for them. Chic informa-tion is also available here.

We have implemented an automatedcheck for USDA license. Breeders whop u r chase a listing are ch e cked againstthe USDA list of breeders. The listingis removed if the breeder is USDAlicensed.

We have implemented puppy land-ing pages. These landing pages have

been created for the top ten AKC reg-istered breeds. When a potentialpuppy buyer is on a popular searchengine such as Google or Yahoo, andenters a term such as “lab puppy” or“lab breeder,” one of the top searchresults will be our Labrador Re t r i e v e rlanding page.

The goal of the puppy landing pagesis to increase the likelihood that AKC’sonline breeder classifieds will show asan option when potential puppy buy-ers are searching the internet.

In conclusion, the informationwhich has been presented to you todayclearly shows that the AKC’s onlinebreeder classified service has been asuccess and has met its primary andsecondary goals. The return rate forblue slips is 3.6 percent higher for lit-ters listed in OBC, and the OBC sitehas received over 3.1 million searches,allowing us to share our expertise andto serve the public.

The service has received almost30,000 listings to help breeders findbuyers for their puppies, and it hasresulted in alternative revenues.


M r. Sprung: Thank you, David andKristi.

The Chair now calls on No r m aRosado-Blake, who is the AKCarchivist, to give you an update on ourArchives Department.

Ms. Rosado-Blake: Good afternoon.I want to first thank the Board ofDirectors and AKC management, par-ticularly Dennis Sprung, for giving methis opportunity to address the De l e-gates. Thank you.

Delegates, I can’t express how excit-ed I am about being here. This is myfirst Delegates meeting, so it’s been aninteresting experience. And howthrilled I am about joining the AKCfamily. I only have about five minutesto discuss a couple of things, so first Iwant to update you on the AKCarchives and also I want to start a dia-logue about the importance of preserv-ing club records.

What you are seeing right now arecurrently in the AKC archives. Theyinclude photographs, magazines,reports, breed standards and othervaluable items. They tell a story abouthow the AKC, clubs and breed stan-

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1 5


dards have evolved since the late 19thc e n t u r y. It tells how our relationshipwith purebred dogs has evolved overtime to include a broader scope ofissues such as health and genetics. Andit te lls how purebred dogs havebecome an increasingly bigger part ofour lives, such as search and rescuedogs and therapy dogs, which bringjoy and happiness to those they touch.

So there are many stories that needto be told and this is where you, theclub, comes in. As you know, I sent outan introduction letter along with arecords survey that was forwarded toall member clubs and Parent clubs inearly June. I received approximately a20 percent response rate, which giventhe time frame is a pretty good start.Right now I’m in the process of draft-ing a letter to solicit club records andaccession collections into the archives.

Now, I know there’s been a lot oftrepidation about this; but I want toreassure everyone that this is a volun-tary effort and will benefit your club.First, it will create a comprehensive,unique, national repository dedicatedto the purebred dog. Besides the Do gMuseum in St. Louis, there are noother institutions like this.

Second, it would secure club recordsby minimizing exposure to perils suchas fire, flood and transfer from memberto member. These are issues that wererevealed through my discussions withclub members and the records survey.But these issues are preventable.

Finally, another benefit is: Clubrecords will be saved for posterity, forfuture generations to learn and grow.For those who do decide to forwardtheir collection, your club may setrestrictions on any part of the collec-tion, and continue to have full access tothe collection. With proper notifica-tion, you may have copies of some, ifnot all, of the items contained in thecollection, and you are welcome tovisit the AKC archives as many timesas you wish.

So if these conditions and these ben-efits aren’t enough to convince you,then let me share a collection that wasrecently processed. The Bull Te r r i e rClub of America collection was givento the archives several years ago, but ithadn’t been processed. Since I knew itwas relatively complete, I asked oursummer intern to process the collec-tion.

And the result of finding aid, which

outlines several parts, including thecollections size, provenance, arrange-ment, club historical information andbiographical information and also aninventory of the collection. And eachcollection that is accessioned by thearchives will have a finding and draftedand placed on the website.

Now, this particular collection hasseveral noteworthy items, includingminutes from 1947 to the present; theirfirst publication of the Record in 1972;flyers from regional BTCAs, and apublication appropriately entitled “BullTerriers of Today” published by theBCTA in 1951.

There are certainly more items inthis collection, but I hope this givesyou a good sense of what a finishedproduct looks like.

Additionally, I hope reviewing thissmall bit of the collection will galva-nize support for the archives and, moreimportantly, I hope this has inspiredyou to consider the AKC archives asthe future home of your club records.

For those not inspired or not con-vinced, I want to leave you with thislast note: I often hear people speakabout the archives as containing justold stuff, boxes and papers and docu-ments and items that have really nobearing on their own lives. But Ibelieve otherwise. I think it is so muchmore than that. It brings to life thecyclical and linear history which re-tells a story. It is a story about us. It is astory about them. It’s about history. It’sabout standards and showmanship andteamwork. It’s about the hunt and theshow. It’s about great joy and great sor-r o w. It’s about dedication and hardwork. It’s about family and ultimatelyabout culture and the lives that havepassed before us, but endure for futuregenerations.


M r. Sprung: Thank you very much ,Norma.

The Chair now calls on John Lyons,our Chief Operating Officer, to presentDelegate medallions.

M r. Lyons: Thank you, De n n i s .Good afternoon, everyone. This is theeighth time that AKC has had the priv-ilege to present Delegate medallions.The medallion is in recognition of mer-itorious and long-term contributions tothe Sport. Each individual has served

in this body for at least 25, years andthey join 53 previously honored Dele-gates.

This medallion program recognizesour core constituency and allows agrateful American Kennel Club theopportunity to honor their own. Pleasehold your applause while the followingDelegates come forward:

Dr. Robert M. Brown, representingthe Great Pyrenees Club of America;Janice Sparhawk Gardner, from theRo ckingham County Kennel Club;Evelyn Honig representing the Califor-nia Collie Clan; Patricia W. Laurans ofthe German Wirehaired Pointer Clubof America; David C. Merriam of theDuluth Kennel Club; Ruth Ann Naun,representing the Border Terrier Club ofAmerica; James G. Phinizy of theCheshire Kennel Club; and MarshallSimonds, representing the MidwestField Trial Club.

Now, if you will join me congratulat-ing the honorees.

(Applause)

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, John.I would like to now call on Jim

Crowley to honor four of our memberclubs.

M r. Crowley: I would now like totake this opportunity to congratulatethe Chow Chow Club, the Erie KennelClub, the Mississippi Valley Ke n n e lClub and the We s t chester Ke n n e lClub, which are celebrating 100 yearsof membership in the American Ke n-nel Club this year. The Chairman willpresent each club with a plaque tocommemorate this occasion.

If the Delegates for those clubs arepresent, please come to the front of theroom.

(Applause)

Mr. Sprung: The Chair now calls onNoreen Baxter, our Vice President ofCommunications, to announce thethird quarter AKC Co m m u n i t yAchievement Awards.

Ms. Baxter: The AKC Co m m u n i t yAchievement Awards are given toclubs and AKC federations and theirmembers who have made outstandingcontributions to public education orcanine education activities. Each hon-oree receives an AKC Certificate ofRecognition, and the AKC donates$1,000 to each honoree’s club or feder-

16 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


ation. Details about the honorees’accomplishments are published in theA KC GAZE TTE and featured on theAKC website.

The third quarter honorees areCheryl Costello, Wilmington Ke n n e lClub, Delegate: Candace Mo n g a v e r o ;Pamela Duke and Carol Linger, SantaMaria Kennel Club, Inc., De l e g a t e :Laurence J. Libeu; and Tampa BayKennel Club, Delegate Mary Manning.

Please join me in congratulating thehonorees.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, Noreen.Jim Crowley will share with you the

standing policy that has been in effectfor Delegate committees since incep-tion.

M r. Crowley: There’s been somequestion about the filling of vacancieson Delegate committees, and I did getan inquiry from the Parent Club Com-mittee concerning this. I just wanted toshare my reply so all the committeesare operating under the same guide-lines.

Section 6M of the Delegate StandingRule on Committees provides that,“ Vacancies on a Committee shall befilled until the next Committee electionby a vote of the Committee.” This sec-tion does not stipulate that the vacan-cies must be filled at the next Commit-tee meeting or any specific subsequentCommittee meeting. As no deadline isgiven, the Committee may fill thevacancy after one or two meetings oreven leave the vacancy until the nextCommittee election.

This, again, would apply to all Dele-gate committees per the standing rule.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, Jim.The next item is a report on the

appointments to the Nominating Com-mittee. At the August meeting, theBoard of Directors selected the follow-ing Nominating Committee to nomi-nate candidates for the class of 2011.Chair, Ann Wallin, Atlanta Ke n n e lClub; Eddie Dziuk, National Be a g l eClub; Carl E. Gomes, Pacific Co a s tBoston Terrier Club; Dr. Sophia Kaluz-n i a cki, Akita Club of America; andThomas L. Millner, Briard Club ofAmerica.

The two alternates are: Ruth W.Crumb, Mount Vernon Dog Tr a i n i n gClub, and William A. Russett, WesternReserve Kennel Club.

I will now ask Ann Wallin, Chair ofthe Nominating Committee to comeup, or you can speak from whereveryou like.

Ms. Wallin: Good afternoon. Dennisjust read the names of the members ofthe Committee. If they’re here, I wouldlike them to just stand up for a quickmoment so that people can recognizethem. If the members and the alter-nates would please just stand for amoment if you are in the audience.

Eddie Dziuk is here, Bill Ru s s e t t ,Carl Gomes, Ruth Crumb and SophiaKaluzniacki. Thank you very much.

Tommy was with us earlier butunfortunately had to leave for a busi-ness trip this morning and could not bewith us today.

I just want to let you know that theCommittee has met and has formulat-ed our procedure of how our Commit-tee is going to operate this year. I’mgoing to briefly tell you that today; butthis is also going to be posted on thewebsite at the Delegate portal, so thatyou will have easy access to how youcan contact the Committee members,and the dates I’m going to give youwill also be outlined there.

We have come up with a procedurethat our Committee will follow. Wehave developed a questionnaire thatwe are going to request that all De l e-gates who wish to be considered willfill out and return to us by Novemberthe first. That will be available by theend of this week. We can submit that toyou electronically or via regular mailby hard copy as well.

Any member of the Committee canreceive an inquiry or submission ofnominees to be considered. I will bethe contact person who will then sendout all of the questionnaires, and alsoall the questionnaires will be returnedto me and then they will also be dis-tributed for all the Committee mem-bers.

Our submission must be turned in toM r. Jim Crowley by November the30th; but again we are asking for allsubmissions to be returned to us byNovember the first; then we will bephysically meeting to review all ofthose questionnaires and make our rec-ommendations.

If you do have any questions regard-ing this, please see me or any of theCommittee members and, again, youwill be able to find an easy access to

communicate with us all via the web-site on the Delegate portal. Thank youvery much.

(Applause)

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, Ann.I’d like to follow up on a concern

that was raised at the June De l e g a t e smeeting regarding the validity of thebreed of some ILP dogs. I would liketo report that the Special Se r v i c e sDepartment has looked into the matter.As a result, we received two com-plaints in July. One of the dogs wasapproved at an ILP live event, whereAKC staff with expertise in thisreviewed the dog in person. We feelconfident that the dog is a representa-tive of that breed.

The other complaint was reviewed atan AKC Conformation event this pastweekend. And we are awaiting a fie l dreport on the outcome of that review.We have no record of any other com-plaints received by staff on ILP dogs inthe previous six years.

Now I would like to introduceCharley Kneifel, our Chief InformationOfficer, who will share an analysis thatwas given to the Board of Directors inAugust 20 06. This analysis looks atConformation participation trends overthe last years. Robin Stansell, the VicePresident of Event Operations, willthen update you on strategic planninginitiatives to increase participation inthe Sport and to make dog shows moreattractive to new exhibitors.

Mr. Kneifel: Thank you, Dennis. Hello, Delegates. Today I’m going to

tell you a little bit about the analysiswe did and what it shows and why it’simportant to consider it in light of thedeclining registration trends.

The question is: How many dogs arecompeting in Conformation events;how do we understand what that is orcharacterize that set of dogs. How dowe look at the dogs competing in alltypes of Conformation shows; allbreed, limited breed, specialty and par-ent specialties, to determine the num-ber of distinct dogs who are competingin these Conformation events across alltypes of events and all superintendents.We are not looking at just a small set ofthe dogs for one superintendent or asmall set of the dogs from one type ofcompetition type alone.

Unfortunately, over the last six yearsfrom 2000 through 2005, we have seen

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1 7


a systematic drop, about a half a per-cent a year, or 750 dogs, in the annualnumber of distinct or unique dogs whocompete in Conformation shows. It’sfallen from a high of 156 , 500 in 20 0 0down to 151,900 in 2005.

The question is: What can we do tounderstand this data, to better figureout the next steps, and what dogs arebeing exhibited and what dogs are notbeing exhibited, especially in light ofthe fact that overall entries are up.

Now, remember, that a dog canenter 20 shows, 30 shows or 50 shows;so the number of entries reflects over-all participation, but not the number ofdistinct dogs competing in thoseevents.

The first thing we did was to usesome standard scientific methods forusing distributions to look at the “whoare the dogs that are competing andhow many shows are they competingin.” A histogram is used to identify thenumber of dogs who entered a particu-lar number of shows in a year, whetherthat be one show, two shows, fiveshows or 50 shows. Count each dog inthat distribution one time, and thencalculate the number of shows that thatone dog entered.

We looked at the trend for dogscompeting in one and only one showin a year. We have seen an annualdecrease of 550 dogs who compete inone and only one show. That’s twothirds of the amount of the overalldecline is dogs who compete in oneand only one show. I’ll say that again.One and only one show.

What does the distribution look likeas we increase the number of shows —or number of entries we are going tolook at? This graph looks at the datafrom one to 25 shows; and as you cansee, as I started to look beyond aboutfive or six shows, the trend is very sim-ilar in terms of competition and thenumber of shows entered for the lastsix years, 2000 through 2005. But thereis a big difference in the number ofdogs who entered one show or thenumber of dogs who entered two,three, four, five or six shows.

If we combine all the data that wehave and look at the cumulativechange, where that’s the averagechange over a multi year period, andplot that out against the number ofshows and accumulate the total changein entries, we see a large decrease indogs who are entered in six or less

shows. Then we see an increase indogs who are entering into seven ormore shows.

This to me is significant, because Ibelieve that the dogs who are enteredin one, two, three, four shows are thepeople who have an opportunity forthe first time as they purchased anAKC registered dog to participate inthose events; while the group who rep-resent the beyond seven or moreshows are the fanciers, you, who arecompeting in more and more showsevery year.

In summary, we see an increase inthe number of dogs who compete inseven or more shows. We see a consis-tent decrease in the number of dogscompeting in one and only one show,550 per year, or 2.7 percent per year ina six year period. And a decrease over-all in the number of dogs that competein one to six shows.

What can we look at to analyze this,what does it correlate with, what elsedo we know? Well, we know there hasbeen a significant decrease of five per-cent-plus per year for that 2000 to20 05 period for the number of dogsregistered. And the question is: Is theoverall decrease in the numbers ofdogs who are entered in one, two,three, four, five or six shows correlatedwith that decrease overall?

The blue line here shows the averagedecrease in registered dogs per year forthe last six years. The red line is a fit ofdata that we made that said, well, let’sassume that the dogs who are notentering one to five shows or one to sixshows are directly related or directlycorrelated to the dogs who are notbeing registered. And the purple lineshows the increase in dogs participat-ing due to dogs competing in seven ormore shows.

If we combine the two sets of data,we can directly match the fall-off inConformation show participation by acombination of assuming that the num-ber of dogs participating in six or lessshows is directly correlated with thereduction in the number of registereddogs every year, as well as an offsettingincrease in dogs participating in sevenor more shows.

And overall, the number of entrieshave been increasing on an annualbasis - once we account for HurricaneKatrina related cancellations in 2005.

I’m going to now turn the micro-phone over to Robin Stansell, who is

going to talk about some of the otherinitiatives that the AKC are workingon that are coming out of strategicplanning to address this.

Mr. Stansell: Thank you, Charley.Today I’d like to talk about a couple

of initiatives that we’ve taken. Yo uhave heard several initiatives concern-ing registrations. I’m going to talkabout initiatives to increase participa-tion in dog shows.

In fact, a new exhibitor coming to anall-breed show doesn’t always find afriendly environment. They may haveproblems in the parking lot, in theunloading area; and the groomingarea’s particular unfriendly for some-body setting up their single crate.

It’s very difficult to find rings. Thesteward may not be extremely helpful,and unfortunately every judge doesn’twelcome a new exhibitor who is inex-perienced into the ring. We’d like toaddress some of these issues with someof the following initiatives.

First of all, we often find specialtyclubs to be more attractive to newexhibitors. People are more welcomedin their own breed. Specialties are nor-mally smaller shows, and we havealready implemented a couple ofthings to make these specialties moreattractive. First, we have permitted spe-cialty clubs to travel further to holdspecialties. We have permitted thesespecialty clubs to cluster together hold-ing two events in a single day, as longas they are smaller than 100 entries.We are trying to support specialties asthey are often more attractive to newexhibitors.

Specialty clubs currently don’t haveto comply with some of the initiativesthat all-breed clubs comply with tohold shows the next year. It’s ourintent to ask specialty clubs to havesimilar requirements as all-breed clubs,s u ch as holding independent match e s ,and other outreach programs to intro-duce people to their breed. Thesemight include judge’s education ands u ch things as participating in “Me e tthe Breeds” programs.

Some all-breed clubs are holdingsnew exhibitor briefings. These are par-ticularly helpful, in that they introducethe new exhibitor to club members, tosuperintendents, to field staff, helpthem find a spot in the grooming area,help them find their ring and to betterunderstand exactly how the day is

18 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


going to work for them. We found thisvery successful at the all-breed clubsholding these briefings.

Independent matches:Evening matches have frequently

become a practice ground for peoplewithin the Sport. Independent matcheswithin the community are more attrac-tive to new exhibitors. They are howmost of us started showing dogs but Ithink we lost that opportunity withevening matches following all-breedevents.

Some of the other initiatives includepublic education. We should recognizeclubs that have good active public edu-cation programs or provide AKC regis-tered handler workshops for juniorsand adult handlers. We have had a fewof these across the country and theyhave been extremely popular. Again,Meet the Breeds programs have beenvery good with outreach and attractingnew exhibitors.

Recognize clubs that provide AKCShow Chair Seminars or Show Co m-mittee Seminars that help educate newclubs, new club officers, and new clubshow committees to hold better andmore comfortable events.

We are considering some new rulechanges. One in particular would makeit easier to change an entry the day ofshow, should you make an error andfind yourself ineligible to exhibit. Thatfrequently occurs with new exhibitorsand foreign exhibitors. That’s one ofthe rule changes we are looking at, andother rule changes are proposed forclarity.

We are considering adding classesfor amateur or owner handlers to rec-ognize people that aren’t as adept athandling as some of the professionalhandlers that are frequently winning.Additionally ranking systems thatencourage owner handlers or breederhandlers to exhibit beyond the classcompetition as special are being con-sidered. We would like to recognizethose exhibitors and encourage moreparticipation.

Some of the other ideas: Frequently the stewards, judges and

professional handlers aren’t the friend-liest people at the event. We’d like toget those respective professional orga-nizations to take part in welcoming andhelping educate new exhibitors.

Additionally, we’d certainly like tohave Delegate input on any of these orother initiatives that might be helpful.

The next steps:Rule changes will be taken to the

Dog Show Rules Committee, recom-mendations will be taken to the Boardand efforts to promote grass rootsefforts at the local club level will beencouraged. We would like to ask foryour support in that effort.

Thank you very much.(Applause)

M r. Sprung: Earlier in the meeting,Jim Stevens mentioned our Pe t l a n dregistration initiative. The Chair callson John Lyons, our Chief OperatingOfficer, to provide you with somemore information on this project.

Mr. Lyons: This is some more back-ground information for you on this ini-tiative to hopefully clear up some ofthe misunderstandings.

During strategic planning, the Boardlooked at registration trends in depth.The Board considered all facets of reg-istration. The registration portion ofthe Board’s strategic plan outlines threemain strategies.

The first strategy: Increase the returnrate of individual dog applications byincreasing the value of registration.The second strategy: Increase litterregistration by improving AKC’s rela-tionship with breeders. And the thirdstrategy: Develop constructive dia-logues with pet shops and distributors.

Registration tactics focus on increas-ing registration by addressing theneeds of all customer groups. Do gowners, the fancy, breeders and thecommercial channel. This focus stemsfrom a belief that purebred dogs arebest served by AKC, and breedingprograms are better when AKC isinvolved than when we are not.

An article in the June Pe r s p e c t i v e ssubmitted by Jim Crowley provideddetails on many of the registrationrelated tactics we have implemented tostop the decline and reverse the trendin dog and litter registrations. The arti-cle specifically highlighted tactics relat-ed to the commercial sector, including:Continued dialogue with distributorsand pet retailers to consider ways toencourage high standards and promoteAKC registration.

During the strategic planningprocess, the Board considered and pri-oritized these tactics. The Boardreceives regular communication as tac-tics are implemented in addition to

quarterly updates on the overall strate-gic plan timeline.

The Board considered the tactic ofworking with pet shops and distribu-tors to promote AKC registration ateach strategic planning workshop fromApril through the final approval of thestrategic plan in October of 2005. Theythen prioritized this as a high prioritytactic, and instructed staff to begin dis-cussions.

The Board reviewed the details of apotential agreement with Petland at theApril and July, 20 06 meetings. At theBoard’s direction, staff moved forwardto develop an agreement with Petland.

So what does this agreement mean,and what is the purpose behind it? Theagreement establishes a means to pro-mote AKC registration. The purpose issimply to encourage the AKC registra-tion of AKC registrable dogs, that is,puppies that have come out of AKCregistered litters. Today, many of theseAKC registrable dogs are registeredwith other registries or not at all.

Educating Petland associates aboutthe value and importance of AKC reg-istration will highlight the differencesbetween AKC and the for-profit listingservices. As Petland associates prepareto send a puppy home with a newowner, they will highlight the valueand importance of registration. If thenew owner decides to register, Petlandwill facilitate the process by providingdata necessary for registration to theAKC: Litter registration number, color,sex, marking, microchip number andthe name and address of the newowner. In addition, the new owner willpay for AKC registration in the store.

The new owner will complete theregistration process by submitting thename of their new puppy on line or viapaper. Just to clarify, as a result of thisproject, AKC is not providing dis-counted registrations to pet retailers.From this agreement, AKC benefits bybeing able to reach more new dogowners. Petland sees a real value in theprograms and services AKC has tooffer to dog owners: Event participa-tion, and programs like canine goodcitizen, the Canine Health Foundation,companion animal recovery and petinsurance. These programs are a realvalue to new puppy owners.

This agreement is one tactic in asuite of initiatives aimed at increasingregistrations. For breeders, we havedistributed litter registration coupons;

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 1 9


issued litter coupons to bred-by medal-lion winners; implemented the full lit-ter registration, a process that includesan average 28 percent discount on thelitter registration and a 20 percent dis-count on the dog registration, as wellas discounts on packages.

For dog owners, we have introduceddog.com certificates and veterinarynetwork certificates. As you know,much of 2005 was spent on developingthe strategic plan. As part of the devel-opment process, the Delegate bodyreceived regular briefings. In January,20 05, briefings in Tampa outlinedsome of the major trends in registra-tions, including the growing number offor-profit listing services.

A presentation and subsequent mail-ing in June 2005 detailed the goals andstrategies, including dialogue with dis-tributors and pet retailers. The Chair-man’s final report on the strategic plan,mailed in the fall of 20 05, again sum-marized the goals and strategies of theplan.

We are less than a year into our fiveyear strategic plan, but have alreadyaccomplished much. As we havebegun implementing the plan, we havecontinued to provide briefings to theDelegate body. Jim Crowley’s article inthe June Perspectives gave you amidyear update on our progress. Wewill provide a year-end update at theDecember Delegates meeting.

In addition, as new initiatives arel a u n ched, you will receive announce-ments. Thank you.

Ms. Laurans: Mr. President?

Mr. Sprung: Yes.

Ms. Laurans: Do you wish to havequestions and comments regarding thispresentation now or later?

Mr. Sprung: Under new business.

Ms. Laurans: You want to wait afterthat? Thank you.

M r. Sprung: We will wait for newbusiness.

Ms. Laurans: We’ll be glad to dealwith it now, while John can give someanswers, or you can -

M r. Sprung: We’ll do it under newbusiness.

Ms. Laurans: Okay. Thank you.

M r. Sprung: For your information,the Tuesday December 5, 20 06 meet-ing will be held at the Hyatt Regencyin Long Beach. If you have not alreadydone so, we urge you to make yourhotel reservations now. Due to thepopularity of the AKC/E u k a n u b aNational Championship, the busy trav-el season and the overwhelmingdemand for hotel rooms in LongBeach, an early cancellation policy willbe in effect for the downtown hotels. Iffor some reason you are not able tokeep any part of your hotel reserva-tion, please bear in mind you mustmake all cancellations by six p.m. Cali-fornia time on October 26th to avoid anonrefundable charge of one nightroom and tax.

Once again, our photographer is out-side waiting to take your photographs,should you choose to do that afteradjournment.

Delegates are also reminded to leavetheir badges at the desk.

New business?

Ms. Laurans: Before I blast off, I’dlike to say thank you for ack n o w l e d g-ing 25 years of service for all of us.And John, I’m glad you are walking tothe podium and you are a brave man.

The indication was given that wewere going to help Petland with com-munication and education. The origi-nal question as to whether we had anagreement with Petland was asked bysomeone in the audience at the ParentClub Committee. Unfortunately, Jo h nwas not present. We were told that wewould be given a presentation and Iam appreciative of the presentation.

One of the questions that I askedwas: Is Petland going to be registeringthe AKC dogs that they sell there? AndJohn, I believe you told me no.

M r. Lyons: That’s true. There isgoing to be an exchange of data thatwill allow us to issue the registration.

Ms. Laurans: And how will that databe exchanged? In the same way on-line registrations are done?

Mr. Lyons: Basically, yes.

Ms. Laurans: Yes, okay. So that’ssemantics. I would like to call attention

to every single Parent clubs’ that Iknow of code of ethics that says we willnot sell to pet stores. I would like tocall attention to the fact that, from myhumble belief, we are selling ourbirthright for a few shekels.

I would like to call attention that thisis a club of clubs and that we are yourc o n s t i t u e n c y. We are the groups thatare asked to help out with medallions,to work at shows, to educate the pub-lic, to make our clubs and our eventsmore friendly so we can help increaseregistration on a volunteer basis.

I would like to make note of the fact,and pardon me, I feel we are prostitut-ing some of our values, I feel we aregoing against what I believe most ofthe members and member clubs wouldwant to see happen, and I feel that weshould have at least had some sort ofway to give you our thoughts beforecontracts were signed, sealed anddelivered.

You said, and I supported the fact,that we don’t want to let the enemy in.I question the fact right now if theenemy is already here. Thank you.

Ms. Cooke: I promise you, I’m goingto be short. I’m not going to addressthis, because I don’t have time. I havetwo things I need to ask. One: is theterm significant interest in a competingregistry been interpreted by the Judge’sDepartment to include independentcontractors. And my concern is — andthere is an AKC judge who is an inde-pendent contractor who has donesome work for UKC, and has receiveda letter saying that this person is nolonger eligible to judge.

If that is the interpretation, then Ineed to go back and tell my club that Itoo am no longer eligible, assumingthat the words will be interpreted thesame way on both sides of the house.So I need an interpretation on that.You don’t have to give it this minute,but that’s the first thing.

M r. Sprung: We will get you thatinterpretation, absolutely.

Ms. Cooke: Thanks. The secondthing is in the August minutes, you saidthe Breeders Recognition Program wasessentially dead for lack of interest, andmy question is: Who was not interestedin a Breeder Recognition Program?

M r. Sprung: Ron Rella, would you

20 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


please address that.

M r. Rella: Sure. Every step of theway when we were talking about theBreeders Recognition Program, wecame to the Fa n c y. We came to theFancy initially for the very first input.We spoke to Delegates, we spoke toBreeders, we spoke to staff with dogb a ckground. And everything that wassaid was very, very positive. There wassomething for everyone in the pro-gram.

And you have to remember that theconcept for the Breeders Re c o g n i t i o nProgram is all very positive. So therewas really nothing to dislike. But oncewe started putting the program togeth-er, we were getting feedback ratherthan input. And the feedback was thatthe program and all the positive thingsthat were coming from it were great forother people. And the more we spoketo the Fancy, the more we were toldthere were people interested in joiningto help us out, to get it started. Butthere wasn’t a great need. And that’swhere we are finding a lack of fanciersupport, with the need.

Ms. Cooke: Fair enough. Thank you.

Ms. Laurans: Can we get back tohave comments on what I was just talk-ing about and that was getting distract-ed, so we can keep things in context?And if people have other things thatthey would like to talk about, wouldyou back off and let us talk about thisPetland agreement first.

Mr. Lyons: I just want to respond. Iappreciate how you feel. My thoughton that is that these puppies are goingto be sold through pet shops anyway.We are not stopping that. The only dif-ference now is they are not registeredwith us and we don’t have — by notbeing inclusive with them, we don’thave an opportunity to positively influ-ence their behavior regarding condi-tions and so forth.

Ms. Laurans: John, education, com-munication, materials, that’s wonder-ful. The day that we start seeing thembeing registered online from the petshop, where the AKC banners are upin the pet shops, to me that is the GoodHousekeeping’s Seal of Approval in apet shop, and that goes against every-thing I have ever known or beentaught by the American Kennel Club.

Mr. Gladstone: With all respect, Pat,we have been taking their money for75 years and cashing their checks.

M r. Sprung: One person at a timewill be recognized.

The Chair recognized Carl Go m e s ,Delegate for the Pacific Coast BostonTerrier Club, who spoke as follows:M r. Chairman, fellow Delegates, myname is Carl Gomes, from the Pa c i ficCoast Boston Terrier Club. Earlier thisyear, we were given copies of the 2005annual report of the Canine He a l t hFoundation. I read with great interestthe entire report and zeroed in on oneparticular article under the headline,“Global Involvement.” The article stat-ed that the Animal Health Trust of theUnited Kingdom had identified amutation causing heritage for cataractsin Staffordshire Bull Terriers. And theyalso thought that this same mutationhad caused juvenile heritage cataractsin Boston Terriers. Through a generousdonation from the Canine He a l t hFoundation and an extensive DNAsample from Dr. Catherine Graves, thenoted equine and canine research e rfrom the University of Ke n t u cky, theAnimal Health Trust was able to com-plete the program. Through this collab-orative effort, they have now perfectedand completed the task of doing aDNA test for juvenile hereditarycataracts in Boston Terriers.

However, the test can only be per-formed in England for a princely sumof $120. Since this in my opinion was acollaborative effort, I would like toknow what steps are being taken tohave this test performed in the UnitedStates of America by Dr. Graves or anys u ch individual, possibly her, at theUniversity of Ke n t u cky, and why wehaven’t done so at this particular time?

Thank you.

M r. Sprung: Carl, I will ask theCanine Health Foundation to look intothat and provide an answer to the Del-egates.

Mr. Gomes: Thank you very much.

Mr. Sprung: You’re welcome.

The Chair recognized Judy Hart,Delegate from Pembroke Welsh Co r g iClub of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

The good news is when I’m angry, Itend not to become articulate like Pa tdoes but think in sound bites; so thatmight lead you to think I will be a veryshort with this. The bad news is, myflight doesn’t leave until seven p.m. Ihave spent over 35 years involved withpurebred dogs and this Sport - 100 per-cent with the American Kennel Club.And don’t think that I’m upset and myvoice is shaking because I’m sad or notused to public speaking or something. Iam truly angry.

Today I have stopped being a life-long, dyed-in-the-wool, nobody-elsesupporter of the American Ke n n e lClub, and when I get home and startgetting calls from the constituents inmy club, I am going to become anapologist for the American Ke n n e lClub. And that upsets me very, verybadly.

I am not so naive that I think thatPetland is a charitable organization. Imay be wrong, but I don’t believethey’re a charitable organization. Iwould like to know in this contract thatapparently we have already signed —we have been told what’s in it for theAKC; what’s in it for Petland? TheAKC stamp of approval on puppiessold through pet shops? Could we havea little expansion on what was in thecontract that makes this so desirable toPetland that they will train all of theiremployees and do all of this acceptingof registration and do all of these won-derful things for these AKC puppies?What’s in it for Petland?

Mr. Sprung: David Merriam is goingto address that question.

Mr. Merriam: I will respond to bothyour comments and Pat’s comments.In 1981, 96 percent of the income ofAKC was registration money. Thatmoney did not come only from theFanciers or the Sport. That moneycame from all the dogs registered withAKC, which means it was the back-yard breeders, and it was the commer-cial breeders.

In 1981, when we were living off ofthat money to fund our Sport, we didnot feel we were prostitutes to the com-mercial breeders.

If we want to live in the real world,and we have learned it since the insti-tution of the FUS and the departure oflarge parts of the commercial breeders;if we want to live in that world, then

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 2 1


we have to understand that if we wantAKC dogs registered, we have toaddress that segment.

Now, I’m with you in terms of sayingI don’t particularly like the commercialbreeding of dogs. It’s not the way Iraised dogs. It’s not the way I sold mydogs. If I were to apply my own per-sonal standards to the American Ke n-nel Club, as to what dogs we wouldregister, we would probably reduce ourregistry to three or four-hundred thou-sand dogs at most.

We would then radically change theway AKC operates. We can reduce theservices. We can reduce all of thethings that AKC does in an expansiveway for what we believe is in the bestinterests of the Sport of purebred dogs,and we can place upon the participantsof our Sport the entire costs of ourSport. That would be an alternative.We would retract in size and in influ-ence. We would truly be elitist. Butwe’d be elitists who were supportingourselves.

But let me tell you that the cost ofthat would be very substantial. And ifwe had an up-down vote on that and ifyou wanted to say we are willing topay $75 entry fees, we’re willing toassess $5,000 or $10,000 a year mem-bership dues on member clubs, wecould do that, and we could do it allwithin ourselves. But I suggest to youthat that is not the direction that mostof the Delegates wish to go and most ofour clubs wish to go.

As to the question as to what’s in thecontract? I’m not privy to the contract.I’m not.

Ms. Laurans: May we hear fromsomeone who is?

Mr. Merriam: I will only tell you thatjust as the contract with Eukanuba forthe production of the show was confi-dential, this contract is confidential. Iknow many of you would like to havethe entire inner workings of the busi-ness operations of AKC laid out to thisgroup. In the business world of todaythat’s not possible. All we can tell youis that from AKC’s standpoint, they aregiven no breaks.

These people, the pet shops, thecommercial breeders of 20 years ago,could do exactly the same thing thatPetland is doing today. They can sellAKC puppies, they can advertise thatthese are AKC puppies, and they can

assist, in any way they wish for the saleand registration of AKC puppies. Andthey used to do that.

What has changed is that we havecompetitors, and these competitorsnow are in the pet stores. They’re inthe commercial channels. And theysay, “Okay, it costs $15 to register apuppy, XYZ Registry will do it for $12,and we’ll kickback three dollars to thepet shop.” That’s the competition we’rein.

And don’t believe that it hasn’t hadan effect on our registration. Ev e r ymeeting, Jim Stevens relates thedecline of our registration. If we aregoing to address this in a serious, hon-est and a realistic way, we have got toaddress that segment of the registra-tion. That is the commercial. Andthat’s simply the answer.

If you want to tell the Board andyour fellow clubs that we are willing togo inward, support ourselves, pay theprice, then that’s a direction you cango, but I think if we go that direction,the American Kennel Club will notexist 100 years from today.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you, David.

The Chair recognized Ruth AnnNaun, Delegate for the Border Te r r i e rClub of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

The longer I stand here, the more Ithink I’ll probably add too many thingsin and get the whole issue confused. Idon’t want to do that.

First of all, I have to say that when Istarted 25 years ago, it was Dr. Ru t hAnn Naun, and it is still Dr. Ruth AnnNaun; but it’s got nothing to do withdogs, so I don’t use that and I’m not aphysician, so I can’t help you in theroom. But truthfully I was at the ParentClub Committee meeting yesterday. Itry to read most of the things that aremailed to us. And what I thought wewere going to hear about Petland wasthat there was going to be a productendorsement exchange between theproducts that the American Ke n n e lClub now wishes to market with label-ing and the AKC. And in John Lyon’sresponse to us here today, I felt largelythat we were being told — very nicely,John — that we knew about this, thatwe have been updated about this. Andtruthfully I don’t think so. But I alsofeel that we’re, as Delegates and asmembers of a club of clubs, we had

today a Nominating Committee namedwho are accepting open nominationsto the AKC Board until the end ofOc t o b e r. And I think probably just asthe Field Trial Board’s recommenda-tions, when they recommend some-thing, come through this group, withalmost unanimous acceptance all thetime — granted we don’t know, most ofus, a lot about field trials, but we also,most of us, have a lot of confidence inthe Field Trial Advisory Board thatwhat they’re doing for the Sport offield trials; and that they have the bestinterests of that Sport in their mindwhen they are doing it.

Now, I know that the AKC is anorganization with a bottom line, andissues that have to be considered interms of the bottom line. I do notaccept, although, Lord, I’m not a per-son to be on the AKC Board, so whatam I doing here standing here spoutingoff? It’s a lot of work, it takes a lot ofskill. And you have to have a choice ofdecision about where you want theAKC to go if you are going to be onthe Board.

I think the Board must know thatthere are an awful lot of member clubsthat do not see this direction as whatwe would wish us to explore as ways inwhich we can go forward in this centu-ry to maintain a place for purebreddogs where you don’t have to beapologetic about the product that youare helping families to have in theirhomes. And there’s got to be a betterway than marketing through placesthat take dogs that come from what wenow call high volume breeders. Thankyou for your time.

M r. Gladstone: In 1993 the AKCadopted care and condition policies forthose high volume breeders, what wecalled puppy mills then. When we didthat, we demanded that those high vol-ume breeders meet our standards forthe care and conditions that they gaveto the dogs in their kennels.

Last year we had 4500 inspections ofthose breeders. What we have got tounderstand is that there is a differentmarketplace today than there was in1993. When we accept those AKCbreeders’ dollars for their registrations,and when they have complied with ourcare and condition requirements, theyare indeed putting into the market-place an AKC dog, that is a differentdog than a dog being put into the mar-

22 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


ketplace by someone who has eitherrefused to meet our standards or hasabandoned the AKC to a competitor.

No one suggests that the members orthe Parent clubs should change theircode of ethics or argue that they shouldbe selling dogs differently. The Ameri-can Kennel Club, however, has sur-vived and subsidized our activities onthe income from commercially breddogs since the 1950s. To suggest thatthose breeders who meet our stan-dards, who suffered through ourinspections or tolerate our inspectionsor are pleased for our inspections, theyare delivering a better product, thatdog, that puppy, than those breederswho have failed our inspections, aban-doned our registry, and refused to dealwith us.

It’s not a message that I want todeliver to you. I know it’s not a mes-sage that you want to hear. But the factis if you call high volume breeders thatmeet AKC standards “high volumebreeders,” and you call every othercommercial breeder who refuses orcan’t meet AKC standards “puppymills,” we have got to accept the fact,we are taking their money; and, yes,Judy, we are endorsing them with ourpapers. We are telling the world thesepeople meet AKC standards.

Now, you may not like that, but thefact is that we have lived off of that forthe last 60 years.

Ms. Laurans: Steve —

M r. Sprung: Excuse me. De l e g a t e ,please wait. You have spoken on this.Let him finish and then I have to callon the others who haven’t spoken onthis topic.

Ms. Laurans: Okay. Then I want togo back and ask Steve about the num-ber of inspections -

M r. Sprung: You can. You will ableto.

Mr. Gladstone: I will let Tom Sharpgive you the actual numbers of inspec-tions. My understanding is approxi-mately 4,500.

Ms. Laurans: Of every dog -

M r. Gladstone: We don’t inspectevery dog any more than the IRSaudits every return.

M r. Sprung: Thank you, De l e g a t e .Please be courteous to each speaker.

The Chair recognized Howard Fa l-berg, Delegate for the Golden Retriev-er Club of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

I understand why this approach isbeing explored. I have a question andthen a comment. First off: I live inareas where there’s Petco, where thereis Pet Smart, and the emphasis there ison food and, assorted products. I don’tlive where they have, what do they callit? Petland? Is that primarily a smalleroperation that is filled with puppiesthat they sell? So that’s my first ques-tion.

M r. Sprung: Let’s answer that ques-tion first.

M r. Lyons: Howard, basically theysell everything that you will see in PetSmart, but in addition they sell pup-pies. There are 120 of them nation-wide.

M r. Falberg: Okay. I have somemajor concerns with this approach .First of all, I was very impressed withRobin Stansell’s presentation, becauseit consisted of positive things that weare trying to do to improve participa-tion in our Sport. And I don’t thinkanybody here argued with and certain-ly approved of what Robin and hisgroup are trying to do.

This is a horse or a dog of a differentcolor. Because what we are really deal-ing with here is: We are getting awayfrom the approach that this organiza-tion has had for over 100 years, wherewe support the breeding of purebreddogs by responsible breeders. I meanthe day and age of kennels where peo-ple had literally a hundred or moredogs, it’s over with. It’s a private prac-tice. I was very interested in our trea-surer’s report because it was not a badreport. And combined with whatRobin was talking about, hopefully it’sgoing to improve, you know, the kindof registrations that we get.

I am scared stiff that that what weare doing now with this proposalreminds me of the Biblical phraseabout selling your birthright for a bowlfull of rotten porridge. And I don’tthink that we should be doing that.

And that being the case, I wouldmake a motion that the Delegate body

requests that the AKC rescind all possi-bilities of a contract involving the regis-tration of dogs through the Pe t l a n dorganization.

A Delegate: I’ll second the motion.

Mr. Sprung: The motion is under theauthority of the Board. Therefore, whatyou suggest should be a recommenda-tion to the Board of Directors.

A Delegate: Will you consider astraw vote on that recommendation?

Mr. Holder: What I think he meantwas to make a motion to recommendto the Board to rescind the contractwith Petland. Is that correct?

Mr. Falberg: Yes.

M r. Sprung: We will open a discus-sion on a non-binding standing strawballot. Is there discussion on it?

A Delegate: I Call the question.

M r. Sprung: Is there a second onthat?

A Delegate: Yes.

Mr. Sprung: Any discussion? We aregoing to vote on calling the question.Jim, could you read back so everybodyis clear.

M r. Crowley: Yes, there was amotion that the Delegate body to makea recommendation to the Board thatthe Petland contract be rescinded. Thequestion was called. Now the vote iswhether or not to call the question andvote on the main motion.

M r. Sprung: This requires a two-thirds majority. All those in favorplease raise your hand. Hands down,thank you.

All those opposed, please raise yourhand. Thank you.

The discussion is over. We are nowgoing to vote on the question.

Mr. Crowley: The vote is on a Dele-gate recommendation to the Board thatthey consider rescinding the Pe t l a n dcontract. So we are voting on thatmotion, which is a recommendation tothe Board.

Mrs. Daniels: Point of order. Ques-

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 2 3


tion, please. I believe the motion wasnot to consider rescinding. The motionwas to rescind. The Board could con-sider rescinding and say we consideredit with no action.

Mr. Sprung: Let’s repeat the wordingso everybody is clear.

M r. Crowley: It is a recommenda-tion to the Board that they rescind thePetland contract, which is a non-bind-ing recommendation to the Board.

M r. Sprung: All those in favor,please raise your hand. Hands down,thank you.

All those opposed, please raise yourhand. Hands down, thank you.

The motion passes.

The Chair recognized John Stude-baker, Delegate for the Battle CreekKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

I’m sure you are all multi-taskingpeople, so you can jump back to Carl’squestion that was really about theCanine Health Foundation and its par-ticipation in the funding of the DNAproject that discovered a marker forthese — I believe for the juvenilecataracts in his breed.

I’ll comment since I have been onthe Board of Directors of the CanineHealth Foundation now ten years andI’m a past president. I see also a pastpresident here of my friend Ho w a r dFalberg from California, so he cancomment as well if I don’t cover every-thing.

The Canine Health Foundation, firstof all, Carl, has open meetings and youare welcome to attend any of them. Wehave these meetings ahead of our regu-lar meetings of the American Ke n n e lClub. That was this past Sunday andthe coming meeting in December willbe Thursday afternoon and Fr i d a ymorning.

So any of you and all of you are wel-come to come and attend. If you comeat nine o’clock, we open up, havebreakfast. Let us know if you are allgoing to be there, because we won’thave enough food for the whole bunchbut we will have enough food for tenor twelve of you.

Now, to address the question aboutthe funding of research projects. Wehave at any one time 120 or 130r e s e a r ch proposals in process andbeing funded. These have discoveredover 15 different markers for various

genetic diseases in all of our — in anumber of our breeds.

E a ch one of these projects and pro-posals was backed with a contract. Inalmost all cases, these contracts werewith a university, and that universitythen developed the marker, or identi-fied the marker. In almost all thesecases, there are also these markers andprocedures for these — what amountsto an analysis, is patented. And thatuniversity then has the right to eitherput that patent into the public on a roy-alty basis or to perform it itself.

In a number of the universities, Cor-nell is an example, Michigan State, if Ihad the list in front of me, I could dis-close it more specifically. In almost allinstances, they retain the right toprocess those cases themselves. Theyalso set the fees. You said $130, was it,Carl?

Mr. Gomes: $120.

Mr. Studebaker: Actually, that is lessthan quite a few of these proceduresthat are being done. In some cases, Iknow it is more than that. We have nocontrol over that. You know, they ownthe patent.

M r. Gomes: In some cases it wasover $300.

Mr. Studebaker They can do it. Theydon’t have to do it at all, for that mat-ter. That is a matter of the commercialway that that particular university orinstitution handles it. If you have fur-ther questions on this, any of you, Carl,come to our meetings and I’ll be gladto discuss it in detail.

The Chair recognized Karen Arends,Delegate for the Portuguese Water DogClub of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

There have been some nice attemptsto kind of sidetrack this, but peopledon’t seem to be sidetracked. In Texas,we are very lucky to have very few petstores that sell dogs and cats. Petland isone of the few. And I’ve been to theiropenings and saw very, very docileanimals that it’s not possible they arelike this normally with everybodythat’s there poking them. And thesedogs, I don’t know how many theylose. I heard 20 percent before they getthere. And then people that don’tknow how to care for them and then

go to quite often any home, quite ofteninappropriate. And so we have lost alot of the dogs.

How many of them that you have allseen in pet stores would you swear arepurebred dogs? You know this is kindof iffy. And these came from breederswho obviously don’t care wherethey’re placed. They don’t have to fol-low up. Why do they care if they’repurebred dogs? They are getting thesame money by saying they are. Andif they aren’t interested enough to backthem up, what makes us think they’reinterested enough to be honest withus?

These same dogs are then taken careof by people that know nothing aboutthe breeds, individual placements.Then we have all seen them withhealth problems in our rescue pro-grams, and then you have the nicefamily that came to buy a fish, thatwhen they get tired of it they saluteand flush. These same people may seethis darling puppy and buy it that day.What are the chances of that dog hav-ing a happy long life with this family?

And so these other people said theyare planning to be apologetic. I thinkthat AKC should be ashamed. This isbeyond awful. And most of the things,as others have said, I’ve been able toback, but I can’t even pretend with thisone. And I think the Board shouldlook really hard and strong and maybeif this isn’t the way the real world is, weshould go in another direction. Thankyou.

Also, are these dogs all placed onlimited registrations or are they put outon full registrations?

The Chair recognized Wi l l i a mGreen, Delegate for the Rio GrandeKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

This issue was touched upon yester-day at the caucus so I’ll try to be brief.In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the citycouncil recently enacted what is knownas the HE A RT ordinance, HE A RTstanding for Humane and Ethical Ani-mal Regulation and Treatment. Manywho have read this ordinance see it asone of the most onerous, most danger-ous pieces of spay-neuter, anti breed-ing legislation to come along in a longtime. To highlight just a few of its moreobjectionable provisions, a householdwould be limited to no more than sixintact animals, not more than four ofw h i ch can be dogs. In order to own

24 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


any intact animal, one would have topay an annual fee, permit fee, of $150per intact animal. There would be alimitation on the number of litters:One per intact animal per year. Well, Iguess the dogs are going to have litters,too, but that’s beside the point.

There are provisions in the ordi-nance that trivializes animal cruelty.For example, one could be convictedof animal cruelty for not giving theirdog food or water in the right kind ofpan or bowl, or not providing their dogwith the right kind of toy. Rio GrandeKennel Club and other organizationsin the Albuquerque area have blockedthis ordinance since it was first pro-posed. We tried working with the spon-sor, we tried working with city coun-cilors, we went to the city council, testi-fied against the ordinance two to one;but politics being what they are, it didpass. The mayor did sign it. Interest-ingly, when the mayor signed it, hea cknowledged that most of it is unen-forceable. But that he intended toenforce the spay/neuter and antibreeding provisions of it.

The ordinance was promoted on aheavily anti purebred platform. Co n-trary to the protestations of the spon-sor, it’s got animal rights fingerprintsall over it . Having exhausted ourefforts in the legislative and executivearenas, we have resorted to the judi-cial. We have filed suit against the Cityof Albuquerque, Rio Grande Ke n n e lClub and eight individual plaintiffs.That presents a problem: As the attor-neys among us will attest, lawyersdon’t work for nothing. And we havehad some financial support. Fr a n k l y ,we need more if we are going to besuccessful.

And this is not just an issue forAlbuquerque. If we win in Albu-querque, we are going to be facing thisbattle in other places, other times. Ifwe lose in Albuquerque, that’s going togive the opposition a victory that willhelp them in their future efforts. Andunfortunately, we are fighting at a timeand place of the enemies’ ch o o s i n g .Albuquerque was targeted. I’m here toblatantly solicit contributions, and Iwould ask that anybody who wishes todonate make ch e cks payable to RioGrande Kennel Club.

With the Chair’s permission, I wouldlike to give an address where thosecould be mailed to?

Mr. Sprung: Absolutely.

M r. Green: Rio Grande Ke n n e lClub, PO Box 25672, Albuquerque,New Mexico 87125 - 5672. And withpermission, I will also be posting thisinformation within the next few dayson the Delegates list. Thank you, Mr.President.

M r. Sprung: Thank you. Also Iwould like to suggest that our Legisla-tive Department and Legal De p a r t-ment communicate with you.

Mr. Green: Okay. Thank you.The Chair recognized Lee Slorah,

Delegate from the Des Moines Obedi-ence Training Club, who spoke as fol-lows:

Recently my club sent a letter/peti-tion to the AKC Board of Directors.They have also asked me to convey thecontent of that letter for the Delegatesto consider. For the purposes of thereporter, I have a copy here which Iwill provide. You needn’t try to get meverbatim.

“AKC Board of Directors: We theundersigned members of the De sMoines Obedience Training Club are avery diverse well-rounded and educat-ed group of people. We would expectno less from our obedience and track-ing judges. We strongly oppose the“Judges Conflict of Interest Policy” aspassed by the AKC Board of Directors.This policy does not strengthen theAKC’s position as the premier registryfor purebred dogs. Furthermore, webelieve that member clubs should havebeen notified of potential action on thisissue prior to the policy being enacted.

“While it may be that the actualnumber of AKC registered dogs initial-ly declined due to another registry,participating in companion and perfor-mance events with another registry canonly help to drive desire to competemore often in the Sport, no matter howmany registries there are. Therefore,we would ask that at the very least,obedience, rally and tracking judges beexempted from this policy entirely.Cross venue training and judging canonly help to improve our numberswithin the companion and perfor-mance venues.

Respectfully, the members of theDes Moines Obedience Tr a i n i n gClub.”

Thank you for your kind attention.

M r. Sprung: As the previous Boardminutes stated, that policy is going tobe discussed again in October, nextmonth’s Board meeting.

The Chair recognized Sy l v i aMeisels, Delegate for the LakelandWinter Haven Kennel Club, whospoke as follows:

Yes, I would like to address the sub-ject of the agreement with Pe t l a n dagain, please. Frankly, I find it offen-sive personally, as I’m sure many ofyou do, who are breeders and havebeen registering dogs all your life withthe AKC. I always thought of this as a— sorry, if you don’t like the elitist idea;but an elitist registry, something to beespecially proud of. And now havingpuppies coming out of pet shops in thismanner, what do I have left to con-vince me AKC registration means any-thing more to me than any other reg-istry? Why shouldn’t I go over toanother registry?

Mr. Sprung: You say “now,” we havebeen doing it for many, many years?

Mrs. Meisels: But you haven’t beendoing this through pet shops like this,having them send the registrations in.

M r. Sprung: Correct, the blue slipswere given to the customer.

Mrs. Meisels: I have spent 25 yearsof my life having purebred dogs regis-tered with the AKC. I have specialdogs that have come from the bred-byclass very successfully. I think I havedone the utmost I can to prove that Ihave good dogs, AKC dogs, that Ithought meant something. Now Iwould like to ask something: Is it possi-ble that you could consider your con-tract with them requiring them to havelimited registrations only on those pup-pies that are sold that way?

Mr. Sprung: It’s certainly possible tobring that topic up.

Mrs. Meisels: Could you considerthat, please?

Mr. Sprung: We will consider all sug-gestions seriously. Absolutely.

Mrs. Meisels: I would like to makethe recommendation to the Board that

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they please consider putting limitedregistration on all those puppies soldthat way.

A Delegate: Is that a motion?

Ms. Meisels: That is a motion.

Mr. Sprung: We can’t answer for allother people. In other words, the petbuying public will make that final deci-sion.

Ms. Meisels: But the breeder makesthat decision when their papers go out.

M r. Sprung: That’s not what Imeant. What I said is the person whois going to purchase a puppy, whetherit’s from a breeder or from a pet store,or anywhere else, that’s the personwho makes the final decision.

Mrs. Meisels: No.

M r. Sprung: That’s the person whomakes the final decision whether or notthey will purchase that puppy.

Mrs. Meisels: Whether they pur-chase that puppy or not is not theissue. The issue is: Can they get a fullregistration on a puppy in that man-ner?

Mr. Sprung: That’s the choice of thebreeder.

Mr. Merriam: It’s not the store.

Mrs. Meisels: In this case, there is nobreeder. It is Petland that is transferringthe dog.

Mr. Sprung: No, that’s not the case.There is a breeder of every litter. Pe t-land is not a breeder of puppies.

Mrs. Meisels: Is it not true that whenthe dog transfers hands, the ownershipgoes over to the person whose hands itcomes to? Petland owns those dogs atthe time it sold to the public.

M r. Sprung: It is only the breederwho can choose whether a registrationis limited or not. And it is only thebreeder that can lift that requirement.

Mrs. Meisels: Well, perhaps that ruleshould be changed, sir?

M r. Sprung: Perhaps. That’s up to

the Delegate body. But then what youare suggesting is: Every owner of adog, once it is transferred, could placea dog on limited or lift a limited regis-tration?

Mrs. Meisels: Exactly.

Mr. Sprung: So when I sell a specialto somebody because I’m no longergoing to exhibit it, that dog couldbecome limited. Is that what you aresuggesting?

Mrs. Meisels: Yes, sir, I’m suggestingthat Petland sell only limited dogs.

Mr. Sprung: To be clear, you are sug-gesting we take the right of placing lim-ited away from the breeder, and give itto anybody who owns a dog and istransferring a dog?

Mrs. Meisels: I’m suggesting, sinceyou won’t show us the contract andagreement with these people in the firstplace —

Mr. Sprung: That’s true.

Mrs. Meisels: And in the secondplace, you have demeaned the dogsthat we sell by selling them this waythrough the pet shop and registeringwith AKC, all of them are going to beregistered so that they could be bredand placed in more puppy mills and inmore pet shops. What is to happen tothe purebred dog?

Mr. Sprung: These dogs — let’s takeit one step back, if we may. These dogsare AKC registrable.

Mrs. Meisels: Absolutely.

M r. Sprung: So the question is:Should there be a mechanism for themto be registered as AKC puppies, orwould we prefer that those AKC pup-pies are registered elsewhere?

Mrs. Meisels: That was not my ques-tion.

M r. Sprung: But those are the factsof the matter. They will either not beregistered with anybody, or registeredelsewhere and possibly bred.

AKC will not register a litter withAKC limited registration. However, all23 of our competitors will registerthose litters. We do not have the ability

to stop the registering of litters fromlimited dogs and bitches, except in ourown domain.

Mrs. Meisels: Yes. But I suggest thatperhaps then if you can’t have the Pet-land put limited registration on them,have Petland acquire the puppies frompeople who only sell them to them aslimited registration.

M r. Sprung: That’s a possibility aswell.

Mrs. Meisles: I mean, obviously thisis large commercial breeders they arebuying them from, and if they requirethat the large commercial breederssend only limited puppies to them,then that’s all they can sell.

Mr. Sprung: That would be correct.

Mrs. Meisels: There is a way aroundit.

Mr. Sprung: That’s a possibility.

Mrs. Meisels: Anyway, can we get amotion to the effect that I’d like theBoard to consider this, please?

Mr. Sprung: Absolutely.

Mrs. Meisels: I make such a motion,please, that the Board consider havingPetland buy only from breeders whowill put limited registration on theirpuppies.

M r. Sprung: Is there a second?There is no second.

Mrs. Meisels: Thank you for yourtime.


The Chair recognized Janice Gard-ner, Delegate for the Ro ck i n g h a mCounty Kennel Club, who spoke as fol-lows:

Hello. I’m going to give you all ashort and I would assume rather wel-come break from the heaviness of theconversation we are having right now.I just need to make a couple ofannouncements.

First of all, I want to welcome thenew members to the Pe r s p e c t i v e sCommittee. We had a real election forPerspectives this year; it is the first that

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has happened in about ten years, and Iam very grateful for everyone who ran.

There is an error in the current issuethat specifies that Kitty Steidel is goingto be the coordinator of the Decemberissue. That is not so. She is no longeron the Committee, and Dr. Ge r r yMeisels has kindly agreed to take overthat one issue. And since he is standingright behind me, I am going to let himgive you his e-mail number so that youwill know how to contact him. In themeantime, I heard about a dozen timestoday that nobody can reach me via e-mail, so I’m going to give you my e-mail address: Aren’t you all lucky? Mye-mail is [email protected]

And I’ll turn the mic over to Dr.Meisels.

Dr. Meisels: I have been asked to letyou know that Kitty Steidel resignedfrom the Perspectives Board, ratherthan disappearing or vanishing. She isstill here. But she resigned from it. Mye-mail address [email protected]

I’m also obviously the director, soyou can just always look me up.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you.Mrs. Daniels: Thank you, Mr. Presi-

dent.Perception is reality. How many

times have we all heard that? Andthere have been times when decisionshave been made sometimes in the Del-egate body, sometimes by staff, some-times by Board, where we come awaythinking we have got some egg on ourface. I think right now we all feel likewe have just been hit with a 12 - e g gomelet. And what I would like to say isa very brief analogy, if you will, towhat has happened today. Be f o r elunch, we passed a Bylaws amendmentthat allow us protection from legal law-suits when we keep the enemy out ofthe body. And I can agree with thatreason for that Bylaws amendment.Then after dessert, we find out with aspokesperson from the podium thatbecause we have competitors andbecause we need more money, andbelieve me, I understand the need forancillary lines of income — we wereresearching them tremendously when Iwas on staff and we started one of thebig ones then. But now because weneed the money, we have been told weare going to go to bed with the petshops, with the enemies, and to me

that is indeed prostituting our ethic.


The chair recognized Betty JoPa t r i ck, Delegate for the Sch i p p e r k eClub of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

Earlier today we reviewed and votedon, actually discussed the Article VI,Section 5, of the AKC Bylaws on Dele-gate Eligibility. And I’m going to readq u i ck l y. It says, “No person is eligibleto become or remain a Delegate if heor she, Section B, is engaged in tradeor traffic in dogs which is engaged in —which includes commercial breeders orbrokers of dogs for resale.”

Now, I have a real problem with onerule for us and another rule for you.And I don’t mean to be rude, but I dothe rescue for the State of Arizona.And I am the one that gets the dogsand I am the one that tries to find thehomes and I am the one that pays forthe MPS 3B tests at 80 bucks apiece.And I’m going to say: Petland is notgoing to take them back when theydon’t work out. They come to me. Andthey’re a mess. And I am angry; very,very, very angry.

The Chair recognized KathrynanneSarvinas, Delegate from the Do gOwner’s Training Club of Maryland,who spoke as follows:

I can understand your reasoningbehind getting these puppies regis-tered. However, as someone has beenthrown out of Doctor’s Pet Shops moretimes than I care to count for question-ing the Parentage of a Boxer puppythat I happen to see there that looksmore like a Beagle, is there any waythat we can ensure that the dogs thatthey are registering are, in fact, whatthey are supposed to be?

M r. Sprung: They are part of theinspection process. The inspectors arethere. They do DNA tests, they checkthe papers, etc., as they do in the ken-nels that these puppies came from.

Ms. Goldberg: I’m sure I speak formuch of the Delegate body in that wesympathize and recognize that theAKC has to find alternate sources ofrevenue. What you are hearing here isthat this is obviously not the one wewould choose. I’m throwing this outwithout previous thought. It occurred

to me when Howard Falberg was talk-ing about the Pet Smarts and the Petcosacross the nation, those pets supplyfacilities that do not sell puppies; couldthe staff not develop some sort of aprogram, similar to ILP, with paper-work that could be handed out toevery person buying a bag of dog food,inviting them to register their dog issome ILP-like registry that’s part ofAKC, and telling them what fun itwould be to compete in the variousevents that we offer and giving them areduced fee and some sort of incentivethat would be inclusive. Perhaps itwould inspire them to make their nextdog a purebred dog. It would not besupporting the puppy mills or high vol-ume breeders, call them what you will;but it would be including more people,showing them the advantages of regis-tration, show them the joys of beingpart of this fancy, and perhaps encour-aging them to buy from a reputablebreeder next time around?

Mr. Sprung: Thank you for your sug-gestion, I will advise you that suchresearch is already underway.

M r. Stanfield: The Terry-All Ke n n e lClub is concerned about the conflict ofinterest and feels that the —

Mr. Sprung: Excuse me.

Mr. Stanfield: the conflict of interestpolicy shouldn’t -

M r. Sprung: Excuse me, sir. Is thisabout conflict of interest for judges orthe conflict of interest for De l e g a t e s ?Which are you referring to?

Mr. Stanfield: For judges.

M r. Sprung: Thank you. I wantedeverybody to be able to follow yourthought.

M r. Stanfield: “And according toArticle 20, under the amendments toBylaws and Rules, Terry-All Ke n n e lClub would like to propose the follow-ing amendment to Section 1, Chapter 7of AKC’s Rules Applying to Do gShows:

Whereas the AKC Board of Direc-tors by voting in their policy in Maythe eighth and ninth, 20 06 meetingplaced certain restrictions on its judgesand in that process changed the rule,thereby usurping the power of the

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 2 7


AKC Delegate body, since Article 9 ofthe AKC’s Charter and Bylaws grantsthe Delegates the sole power to makerules, and;

Whereas the policy on judge’srestrictions proposed by the AKC staffand provided by the AKC Board wasnot in accordance with the AKC’sCharter and Bylaws, and therefore theimplementation date should be post-poned until such time as the De l e g a t ebody confirms the proposed restrictionon judges; and whereas the De l e g a t ebody should be given the opportunityto agree with the AKC Board of Direc-tors’ proposal thereby asserting thesole power granted to them;

Whereas the Delegate body in alllikelihood would not desire to enterinto a Conflict with the AKC Board,but rather want to ensure that theAKC’s Board’s policy concerningjudge’s restrictions be addressed instrict accordance with the AKC Char-ters and Bylaws which directs theBoard of Directors to comply with allprovisions of the AKC Charter andBylaws;

Therefore, be it resolved, to ch a n g ethe rules, in Section 1 of Chapter 7under the title “Judges,” of the Ru l e sApplying to Dog Shows be amendedby the following...”

And that would be the entire ver-biage exactly as described in that Maymeeting after the first — the secondparagraph which says, “Show dogs forothers not be approved until such asengaged in such activity” include theentire sections as passed by the Boardof Directors.”

And submitted by Thom Stanfie l d ,Terry-All Kennel Club. We feel likethis is a Delegate duty and we wouldlike to see the Delegates get a vote onit.

M r. Sprung: Do we have a copy ofthat?

Mr. Crowley: Yes, we do.

Mr. Stanfield: It has been presentedto both Jim and the Board.

The Chair recognized MargaretteWampold, Delegate for the So u t hWindsor Kennel Club, who spoke asfollows:

My kennel club does public educa-tion, big events almost every month.Wherever we go, we take signs that say

“Buy a purebred dog from a reputableb r e e d e r.” We had an incident a fewweeks ago when we did Dog Days inthe Park in South Windsor. This lovelylady came by with her dog, and shewanted one just like it, to breed to.And she informed me it was a SiberianH u s k y. I thought it was a Malamute;and she told me no, she bought it at apet store and she had AKC papers. Wehappened to have a licensed judge thatjudges the whole working group, and Isaid “Ed, come over and tell me whatthis is?”

And he looked at me like I was anidiot, not recognizing a Malamute andhe said, “Peggy, that’s a Malamute.”

Well, that woman has AKC paperssaying she has a Siberian Husky. Sothey are not supervising what they’rebuying and she believes she has aSiberian Husky with AKC papers.

So I’m opposed to anything whereAKC is giving papers to dogs in puppystores or whatever you want to call it,commercial breeders, because we haveworked through the years trying topromote buying a purebred dog from areputable breeder, and if they have anAKC dog, then they know whatthey’ve got. Thank you.

Mr. Sprung: Thank you.The Chair recognized John McNab-

ney, Delegate for the Scottish Te r r i e rClub of America, who spoke as fol-lows:

As some of you know, I have a habitof speaking before I think, so I foundmyself in a situation on an e-mail listdefending breeders and defending theAKC against some people who werevery active in rescue and were blamingthe AKC and breeders for all theirproblems. And the subject turned topuppy mills and whether or not puppymills were approved to sell AKC pup-pies. And I brought up the fact thatthere was a Care and Standards Com-mission that the AKC enforced on allcommercial breeding operations. Andthey came back and said yes, that maybe; but there are many breeding opera-tions out there that are selling AKCpuppies that don’t come anywherenear meeting any kind of reasonablecare and conditions standards. I said, ifyou would tell me the names and theaddresses of these locations, I wouldrefer them to the AKC and see to itthat the issue is addressed.

Mr. Sprung: Please give it to us.

Mr. McNabney: I need to know whoto send those to.

M r. Sprung: Send it to Tom Sharp.He will talk to you right after the meet-ing. Please send it to us.

M r. McNabney: Very good. Thankyou very much.


M r. Brisbin: I guess I am resignedthat my breed and other breed genepools have taken a hit here, and thereis not much I can do about it at thispoint; that the dogs that we are breed-ing and putting out there are going tobe diluted in a population sense bynow more genes from high volumebreeders, and apparently there is notm u ch we can do about that. What Iwould like to know is: Is there achance, and I think some of the peoplewho put this contract in may now bewishing that there was a way to mini-mize this. And let me suggest, and Idon’t think it would bother Pe t l a n d ,that every puppy that gets registeredthrough this program with Petland getsent an invitation to spay and neuterand to maybe even rebate somethingto them if they will spay and neuter sothat their dogs won’t be out there com-peting with ours. And the final issue inmy mind is: Can you at least tell ushow long this contract is valid for? Isthere an expiration date on it?

M r. Sprung: Yes, there’s an expira-tion date. Every contract has a termina-tion clause, so our attorneys have usprepared for any eventuality.

M r. Brisbin: But you can’t tell usnow how long the contract is?

M r. Sprung: I don’t have the con-tract in front of me.

28 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


Mr. Brisbin: Thank you.

Mr. Sprung: All AKC contracts, as Isaid, have a termination clause.

The Chair recognized Gretch e nBernardi, Delegate for the MississippiValley Kennel Club, who spoke as fol-lows:

I regret that we voted to suggest torescind a contract that we knew noth-ing about. But our passions were sohigh and our feelings were so high wedid that, and now we still don’t knowanything about this contract. And I stillhope that some time in the future wecan learn exactly what Petland is get-ting out of this deal. Because there area lot of concerns for it, and I worryabout: We do require chain of owner-ship, a paper trail that follows ourdogs. And, you know, at one point wequickly got rid of the idea of allowingDoctor Pet stores to print our supple-mentary transfers, and I fear that we’regoing back in that same direction, andI hope that’s not the case. But I wantedto speak to you about something else.

M r. Sprung: First of all, if I mayinterrupt. The passion is appreciated.

Ms. Bernardi: Good. Earlier in theday in the financial statement wetalked about the ten million dollardeficit in event expenses. And I feellike we breeders and exhibitors andjudges have taken a hit, because it’s asthough we drain the American KennelClub, instead of contributing to it. AndI’d like to remind you that a few weeksago, six, seven weeks ago a Fr e n chbulldog was sold at auction, whereelse, in Missouri, for $12 , 500, a maleFrench Bulldog.

Now, you have to know that no — Ithink it went to a commercial breederin Oklahoma or Kansas, I’m not posi-tive. But the point I’d like to make is:We never saw — I know a little bitabout the commercial breeding in Mis-souri, and we never saw Fr e n ch Bull-dogs in the commercial establishmentsuntil they started to win groups. So wecontribute every day when we go to adog show and take our good dogs andexhibit them and win with them ontelevision. We contribute to the profitof those dogs. And so I don’t think weshould always feel like we’re the drainon the American Kennel Club.

Mr. Sprung: Gretchen, we’re not try-ing to make the point that that ten mil-lion dollar loss or cost or however onewishes to define it — is negative, from afault point of view. We are simply try-ing to inform the Delegate body thatthis is the financial story addressingevents across the board. Not saying:This is the financial story, the cost ofdoing business is minus ten milliondollars and it’s someone’s fault. That isnot the intention.

The intention is strictly to make surethe Delegate body is aware of the costof holding those events. And certainlynot to say we shouldn’t be holdingthose events or there is anything wrongwith holding them. That’s part of ourcore constituency, and that matters.But we feel an obligation to give youthe entire financial picture.

Ms. Bernardi: I appreciate that.Could I ask one more question?

Mr. Sprung: Of course.

Ms. Bernardi: David, this is to you. Ifyou could go back in time now know-ing what you know now, would yourescind the Frequently Used Sire Pr o-gram?

Mr. Merriam: No.

Ms. Bernardi: Thank you.


Ms. Laurans: Okay. I’ve beenaccused of stirring things up. But Ithink we need to remember: We are allstill part of something we love. Andwhat we love is the American Ke n n e lClub. I’ve had people come up to meand say, can we do a no confidencevote, can we do this. I still have confi-dence in this Board of Directors. WhatI have concern with is maybe theydon’t really understand where we arecoming from.

There may be, whether it be theInternal Consulting Group or the peo-ple that put the strategic plan together,what our bottom line, gut level is with,as the little old lady who is eating thehamburger said, “I’m sick and tired ofthis and I don’t want to take it anymore.”

But it doesn’t mean that we don’tstill need to work together for an orga-nization and a Sport that we care

about. But I think we have expressed abottom line here, and I hope that therewill be some interest to listen to it. AndI know you may not be able to rescindit now, or you may. I don’t know. Butthis is just a gut level thing of some-thing that happened that is untenablefor some of us that we didn’t know wascoming down, and probably you didn’tknow how intensely or passionately wefelt about it.

So I think it’s time for us to worktogether to get that point. Whether itmeans that there is some people whofeel that way, who have input to inter-nal consulting, or to you, or that youcome to us a bit more, I think it needsto happen. And I would also like to seemore money, if we are going to bedoing this, given to our InspectionsDepartment and that it targeted to thepet stores.

M r. Lyons: Pat, I really appreciateyour comments. But I do take excep-tion to one thing, as I have in our per-sonal discussions. The ICG, the Inter-nal Consulting Group and the staff andthe management of this organizationwork at the direction of the Board.They do not work independently.

Ms. Laurans: John, we understandthat totally; and that was why when thequestion came up at the Parent Clubmeeting, the individual from the audi-ence asked that the question be askedat the Board. We do understand totallythat the staff works very hard, that wehave a wonderful caring and commit-ted staff.

They work at the behest of theBoard and I think the Board tries to dowhat they feel is in the best interests ofus and our Sport. But we have gotten alittle off track.


The Chair recognized MargaretPough, Delegate for the Finger LakesKennel Club, who spoke as follows:

This is my infectious disease alert orupdate. Please do not believe everyp a n i cked e-mail about canine influen-za. It is out there. Please do not believein every panicked e-mail of the newparvo. There ain’t no such thing.

There are infectious diseases. Theydo circulate at shows. Our dogs arestressed. Canine brucellosis is outthere. Every single rescue dog you take

SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 2 9


in you should have tested for caninebrucellosis. And neutered.

But as far as these infectious diseases,consult with your vet, use commonsense, wash hands frequently and donot take ill dogs to any event, Boardingkennel, party day, dog show, whateverhave you. Use your brains.

Ms. Parker: I’m very pleased to beable to go back to my kennel club andreport that the Board will be discussingin October the question of conflict ofinterest for judges.

Mr. Sprung: That is correct.

Ms. Parker: Several of our membershave come from the UKC through themiscellaneous class, the Nova Sc o t i aD u ck Tolling Retriever, the Toy Fo xTe r r i e r. They were very concernedabout the ability of judges to crossjudge, and they would respectfullyrequest that you reconsider that posi-tion and allow judges to participate inboth UKC and AKC events. They feelit will enhance both and not detractfrom either.

The thing that I will be very con-cerned about bringing back to mymembership: I’m going to have to takea big gulp when I tell them that theirAKC registration for their dogs, thatthey breed in their homes and try sohard to sell to people as quality pup-pies is going to have no more meaningnow than what they get at Pet Smart.

M r. Menaker: You know, I’m emo-tional, too. And I know Pat’s emotionalas is Judi. We hear you and we willaddress the issues you raise and comeback with a solution.

Your Board does have responsibili-ties and one of those is f iduciaryresponsibilities, but let’s not walk outof here tonight suggesting that this staffor anybody else has come up withsomething that we haven’t been doingfor the past 122 years. Indeed we havebeen registering AKC eligible puppiesfrom Petland, and every other compa-ny selling AKC registrable puppies.We have been registering those pup-pies and we have collected millions ofdollars.

This is not a new phenomenon.What is happening is: As the registra-tions are going down, and many of youare screaming about why this is, ourregistrations have been pirated byother organizations. That means, and

I’ve explained this to Gretchen thismorning, that these pet shops take anAKC registrable puppy and convert itto another registry.

We need to decide whether we aregoing to stop registering puppies thatcome from these puppy brokers or PetShops and the like. I say “stop,”because, yes, Gretchen, we have beenregistering puppies from pet shops.That’s not new. While I certainly don’tendorse brokers or pet shops sellingpuppies, it is a fact of life and the num-bers continue to grow.

What I’m saying is there are severaloptions. One is to make a consciousdecision to no longer register “all”AKC puppies. By the way, some ofthem make their way to pet shops fromall types of Breeders. That’s one alter-native.

To tell you the truth, Judi, I wouldalmost prefer to raise the registrationsand the event fees and be able to say,“Effective next month, we are nolonger going to register those puppies.”However, not only would we losethose registrations, but we would lose alarge number of potential constituentsand that would impact our ability toinfluence legislation and over time, ournumbers might simply make us justone of 23 registries. So that’s OptionNumber 1.

Option number 2 is we continue toregister any AKC puppy — as we havebeen doing in the past. And pleasedon’t make it sound like we haven’t,because the data shows we have beendoing so on a large scale. However, inthis option, we make no attempt tostop the pirating of those AKC registra-ble puppies and we allow our registryand registration dollars to simplydecline.

The third option was the option thatthe staff was trying to present — andblame the Board; don’t blame the staff.I understand you can un-elect us. Butbelieve me, we put our heart and soulinto this sport as much as I believe youall do. Our intention was not to sup-port or to endorse Pet Shops, butrather to stop the conversion of ourAKC puppies.

The fact of the matter is that pet shopAKC puppies were being registeredwhen Judi Daniels was a director andwhen she was president, right, Judi? Wehave always been registering those pup-p i e s .

Now they are getting pirated and

they are ending up in other registriesand they are no longer part of ourAKC. The people who own them maynever have an opportunity to be partof the AKC family. If bred, they are nolonger part of our care and conditions.What we have learned is that compet-ing registries are paying bounties toconvert AKC registration papers toACA papers or the like.

And all we simply did, with this rec-ommendation from the staff , andwhich the Board approved 12 to 1, wasto attempt to prevent this trend fromcontinuing.

You have communicated to thisBoard today that you do not want us topursue this route. Indeed, we will comeup with other ways to pursue revenueshortfalls. One way is to raise fees inorder that we make up for the shortfallthat occurs when registrations decline.

There’s no simplistic answer. We areall emotional. But the fact of the matteris there are many components to thiswhole issue, and there needs to be away of dealing with it. One lady asks ifthey are all limited registrations?

Well, the question you have to askyourself is, did the breeders makethem limited registrations? As far asI’m concerned, they ought to all belimited registrations. So the real ques-tion is: As the registrations continue todecline and as AKC puppies are con-verted to other registries, we have tomake a decision as to whether or notwe want to try to go after them, orwhether or not we want to try to turnaway from them and look for othersources of revenue. That’s what it boilsdown to.

This initiative was not to endorse orsupport those people or the conditionsthat most of us are opposed to. It wasnever done for that purpose. It wastaken because in the past we were reg-istering those puppies, and theyaccounted for a large number of ourregistration numbers.

In any event, I can assure you theBoard has received your message. Wewill reconvene on that subject and youwill hear back from us. I assure you, itwas not a decision taken lightly, norwas there any intent to do harm to theethics and values that most of usbelieve in. Thank you.

The Chair recognized Carl Ho l d e r ,Delegate for the Beaumont Ke n n e lClub, who spoke as follows:

Do we still have a quorum present?

30 SE P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6


M r. Sprung: I would say we do. Bare-l y.

Mr. Holder: I move to adjourn.


A Delegate: Second.Mr. Sprung: This is a majority vote.

We are going to ask you to pleasestand.

All those wishing to adjourn, pleasestand. Thank you.

All those opposed? The ayes have it.The meeting is adjourned.

The opinions expressed by the speakers may not necessarily reflectthose of the American Kennel Club.

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DELEGATES QUARTERLY MEETINGSEPTEMBER 2006 · Giant Schnauzer Club of America, Inc.—Robin...

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